Soundsystem: New picture unveiled

And whilst I'm on the subject of upcoming releases, yesterday The Clash official Facebook page uploaded this rather exciting picture. It's the first glimpse inside the actual box, animated videos aside.  As you probably already know, I'm hugely excited for this release and this has just increased that excitement tenfold. I'm especially interested to see how the rest of the box is packaged: you can't see where the poster tube is stored for instance. It's been interesting reading the debate the boxset has caused fans over the past few weeks with regards to pricing, what it contains and what it omits etc. For me, the boxset contains enough to warrant its admittedly hefty price. Although my age is a big factor in that - I don't collect vinyl so I don't have a single Clash vinyl. My family don't have any either. The vinyl replica package is little more than a gimmick (probably) to most long term fans but it suits me. Ditto for the reprintals of the Armagideon Times - admittedly its nothing rare to a long term fan but for me the chances of me ever seeing these otherwise is next to nothing because they're rare now. Even the badges, stickers and stuff are things that are really not that common to find in Belfast - even more so for groups like The Clash. It's definitely a big price tag and the arguments about how ethical the price tag is given what The Clash stood for is one that carries a lot of credit... I just think this is going to be very much up to the individual fan with regards to what they buy. For me, the correct decision is to buy it. Its one of the rare opportunities I'll have to get excited about an upcoming Clash release, even if one certain Joe Strummer will always be missing. Nevertheless, I'm still organizing my money at the moment to purchase this on release!

Breaking news: MDNA Tour DVD/Bluray release date announced!!

This has been a release that's long been on the horizon, but now we finally have a release date! The MDNA DVD and Bluray will be getting released on August 27th for US, with a global release on August 26th. The much rumored date was September, so I was expecting it to come it around the time of The Clash's Sound System boxset. As it stands it comes out 14 days before. It'll certainly be an expensive period - I'm just grateful there'll almost certainly be none of my other favorite artists releasing new music during that time. Anyhow - that's all off topic. I don't own that many music DVDs in all honesty, but new Madonna tour DVDs I always get majorly excited for because she's my favorite female solo artist of all time, and also because I feel her modern tours are perhaps even better than her earlier tours (Blonde Ambition aside). I haven't even seen that much of 2012's MDNA Tour bar a poor quality video of the opening of the show and the infamous Express Yourself/Born This Way/She's Not Me mash-up. As you can tell I didn't attend a show in person unfortunately - the idea was discussed for attending the Dublin show but as any Madonna fan will tell you, her shows do not come cheap at the best of time and costs to see her for me are only increased because I have to travel substantially to make it to Dublin - she doesn't play in my home city of Belfast. I technically have to go into another country to see her actually (it's this reason why attending shows for me is a rarity in general). In any case - the reviews for the MDNA tour were incredibly positive and I expect nothing less than (yet another) stunning show from Madonna. As far as I'm aware, no live CD will accompany this release (like Sticky & Sweet and Confessions had) but I don't mind: its becoming increasingly more straightforward to convert DVD audio into .mp3 format. The official article doesn't mention any bonus features but I would expect there to be something at least, if not I'd have to say I'd be disappointed. In any case - I cannot wait for this!

Supporting Strummerville: An Update

Another follow on post as such. Regular visitors to my blog will remember a very excited in tone post I made last Thursday as I had finally been able to order my first Joe Strummer T-shirt, which came from the Strummerville charity (along with some postcards). Sadly, there's been a little misunderstanding and for one reason or another I won't be receiving my shirt - the exact reason I won't know until I've heard back from the company that run the Strummerville shop, but its been refunded nevertheless. I have a sneaking suspicion it's to do with stock availability, but we shall see. At first it seemed to suggest my whole order was cancelled but an email I received earlier confirmed the postcards have been dispatched and should be here roughly in no more than three days. It's no problem though, it's just a mix-up that happens in life and I will have no qualms about repurchasing a shirt once I get further clarification (which should be tomorrow or Thursday). It's actually strangely beneficial because (and this is a bizarre coincidence) both my local record store and Amazon have dropped The Smiths Complete boxset down to the bargain price of £25. I've never seen it that low and it's something I've been after for an age: once I heard of it's release I deliberately held off purchasing any Smiths studio albums. I've only got the standard edition of The Sound Of The Smiths at the moment. So at the end of the week I'll definitely be getting that. As for my much mentioned collection photo of The Clash and related groups, that will still happen as originally planned. I probably won't purchase any shirt for another few weeks yet at least because I do need to save money so its pointless delaying it until then. But because I'm purchasing Joe Strummer & The Mescalero's first album and The Clash US at the end of the week I'm still going to need to wait until they're here: there will be no collection photo until they get here which will be next Wednesday or so. Until then, I still have a lot of posts to get through - tomorrow in particular looks to be a busy day for blogging for me!

Pet Shop Boys - Vocal (first impressions)

So, in another new musical release (its more releases than I can seriously keep up with), one of my all time favorite acts has released the first single from their upcoming album Electric. Electric is by far and away my most anticipated album of 2013, not only because its by Pet Shop Boys but also it is produced by Stuart Price, who's a producer I've wanted Pet Shop Boys to work with on an album for ages. I think its because of all these reasons that I think Vocal is so far, a bit of a let down in all honesty. Especially coming after the promo track Axis (which was incredible), and the teaser for Fluorescent, which I've grown to love now. Don't get me wrong - its a far better track than Winner, but I have to say as far as lead singles go its no Love Etc. For me, there's nothing about the track I love. Sure it's listenable, but for me it has mediocre music (at best) and as for the lyrics... wow. I love Neil Tennant as a lyricist, but Vocal have some of - if not the- weakest Pet Shop Boys lyrics I can honestly remember. And yes, I know a dance song doesn't tend to focus predominantly on lyrics normally, but Pet Shop Boys are far from your average dance group. Their focus has always been on terrific songwriting - that's the reason why I feel Vocal is below average for them. I could live with it if it had irresistible music but as music goes... its a good dance track but there's nothing about it that's particularly original. It feels very safe and even standardized, which is absolutely not what I expect from Pet Shop Boys. Although credit where credit is due, I did love the live clip of it I found, so what's putting me off the studio version I really don't know. Although one pet-hate of mine has to be when Pet Shop Boys use auto-tune. Unless if its for a dramatic robotic effect like in Transparent, but that sort of middling usage like in London and Vocal... I just don't like it. I think I simply have too high expectations, especially knowing the album is a Stuart Price production. I've no doubt that Electric will offer much better, mainly for two reasons. Firstly, I've really liked all the other Electric tracks (including live versions) that I've heard so far, and secondly because for whatever reason; I think Pet Shop Boys have a habit of releasing their weaker tracks from albums as singles more often than not. In any case, its not a bad song as such, it's just not exciting enough for me, although I have no doubt Electric will be very exciting!

Last Night's Viewing: Simon & Garfunkel - Songs Of America

Good evening all from a gloriously sunny (once again too) evening here in Belfast. It's the sort of weather that leaves me feeling a bit inspired writing wise. That and also the fact I have quite a lot of updates to make, a few of them being posted tonight hopefully. First of all - something that I actually watched last night. I was in the mood for a documentary but one that offered a little more than a mere chronological history documentation of a band. So, as you know I've been listening to a ton of Simon & Garfunkel these past two or three weeks. With that in mind, I fancied watching something a little in depth about them. I figured a good place to start would be Songs of America. Well, documentary might not be the best term to describe it, its more of a TV special I guess. It doesn't really deal with the making of any specific album or even the history of the group. It aired on CBS in 1969 and contains footage of them on tour: the live performance of For Emily, Whenever I May Find Her I loved (rather predictably). Added to this it has backstage interviews of Simon & Garfunkel and historic news footage. I have to admit, because I'm not American a lot of the news footage made minimal sense, although I obviously recognized figures such as President John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King. It's very interesting to watch as a sort of time capsule, although for a history of Simon & Garfunkel you might want to watch something else!

Sound of The Week: Friendly Fires, Ramones & Updates.

Gosh, is it really that time of the week again already? I swear the weeks seem to be flying in faster and faster as the year goes on! It's been a strange week for me music wise: I haven't actually been dominated by any one particular artist - although my new found love of listening to Simon & Garfunkel is still going strong I finally recieved my copies of Lou Reed's Transformer (remastered), and the special editions of M.I.A's Kala and Goldfrapp's Supernature albums also. Not to mention I also got Little Boot's new album, Nocturnes. Definitely a busy week for me in that regard, although I hope to pick up a few bits and pieces online this coming Thursday. After that then I seriously need to start saving money, although trying to resist the urge to buy one more record is one I find next to impossible. I must try though!

So, in a first for my blog I have not one but two sounds of the week! These are songs I have fallen back in love with, and they sound-tracked what was a pretty great week of weather all round for Northern Ireland. Gloriously sunshine, a far cry away from the snow we received around Easter! So, both songs have a summery feel and that's about all that they have in common. First up, its True Love by Friendly Fires from their second album Pala. I don't feature them on my blog nearly as much as I should, but I love these guys. Probably my favorite band to emerge in the last few years and I simply cannot wait for their third record. Pala is my favourite album of theirs, and one of my favourite albums ever in all honesty. It's one album that I can listen to on repeat. One of my favourite songs from it is True Love, a great song that I'm surprised doesn't get more attention (although I share that opinion for all of Friendly Fires recorded output). It's one of - if not the - most paciest tracks on Pala. It also has piano chords during the chorus that sound like they were lifted straight out of a vintage house track. As you could imagine, I rather love it!

The other song for the week is a completely different sound, but it is also fast paced, exciting and summery. Most of all it is also very addicting! The track is The Ramones cover of California Sun (originally released in 1961 by Joe Jones). It was a track on their second album, Leave Home and it also served as a B-side to the album's first single, I Don't Wanna Walk Around With You. There's two things I love about this: the pounding drums, in particular those during the verses, and the fact that the chorus is one of the catchiest things I have ever heard. For whatever reason, I just love how Joey Ramone sings the chorus.  And in true Ramones style. it's fast, rhythmic and exciting and it makes for a track that I must have listened to five times in a row whilst doing some surfing (pun fully intended although this was of the internet kind) in that gorgeous weather we had. To be honest, I would have to say its one of my favourite cover versions by any artist, ever!

So, that's it for this week's sound of the week. An unusual post perhaps. As for posts this coming week, I have a few songs I wish to discuss and maybe even a book review. Well the book review is nearly totally finished. I keep promising a picture of my ever growing Clash collection but it won't be this coming week, hopefully the week after. I still haven't got a notification of my Strummerville shirt and postcards being dispatched, although because its being delivered first class I hope that when they are dispatched it will be a speedy delivery. Although the local post service can be... erratic, to say the least. I'm actually ordering two Clash/Joe Strummer related items at the end of the week too, so I'll need to wait until the following week before they're even here. Until next time, thanks for reading though!

Find of the day: Rareish(?) interview with the late Joe Strummer

Good evening from what's been a very summery Belfast (for once!). I've been doing a lot of Clash related stuff today between watching assorted videos and trying to decide whether or not its worth £13 for a second hand copy of Pennie Smith's book of Clash photography Before and After. Alias I still haven't made up my mind, although if I do decide to purchase it at all it certainly won't be for a while - It's not going to be long before September rolls around and there's a certain Clash boxset I'm planning on purchasing then...

Now that I've got that out of the way I can move on to what the actual proper subject of this (admittedly insignificant) post is. One interview I watched of Joe was this one: filmed in 1988 for Channel 4's Night Network show. It's primary aim was to promote the then newly released compilation The Story of The Clash Vol 1. Although at approximately 23 minutes long there's a lot of other topics discussed in the interview, most notably Joe's soundtrack work and film work in general, not to mention the Rock Against The Rich tour. It's a good interview, Joe as is interesting to listen to as ever. What did put me off the interview a bit - and judging by various youtube comments I'm far from alone in expressing this sentiment - is the interviewer himself. He's always chirpy but yet seems to fluctuate between comments that suggest he's a big fan or comments that are just downright rude. Making jokes that nobody will have heard the soundtrack for Walker for instance being just one of quite a few examples. Joe remains calm and collected for the duration of the interview, although he does get a little sly dig of his own in near the end He also talks a lot over Joe too which gets annoying because when Joe is given the chance, he's very interesting to listen to when he talks at length. One thing that was quite interesting though was the interviewer asking what Joe made of the claims that he was somehow deeply hypocritical considering his supposed "privileged" background. I absolutely hate people using that argument to belittle Joe, it's well documented that he didn't have nearly as privileged an upbringing as many seem to think... that's for another post though. For now, I hope you all like this interview, even though the interviewer may grate Joe himself is always great to hear!