Listen Up! And hold onto your judgement...

I have absolutely zero shame in admitting that this is currently my favourite song. As soon as it comes on in the car I turn up the volume and sing very loudly, and dance in my seat, while driving very very safely of course... 

I don't even have an ex that I want to shout out to, it's just a blummin fab, catchy pop song, and sometimes that is all you need in life. 

Take it away ladies! 

Listening to...

Since getting the new car I've been raiding the CD collection under the bed and throwing a random five or six in the glove compartment. For the last few weeks Placebo has been on constant play and all the others have been ignored. So bloody good! I've been playing it loud and singing my little heart out on the way to and from work. Sing it with me, "there are twenty years to go..."

Listen Up! - Louis Berry

Ooh it's been a while since we've had a Listen Up! This is mainly because I have been obsessively listening to Absolute 90's Radio with zero shame. All the choons and happy kitchen dancing!

But fear not, there will always be new music and right now I have an absolute belter for you. Louis Berry has 25 Reasons why you should listen to his little ditty - I have just one: it's bloody brilliant! You know the drill, press that play button and let your ears be filled with the joy...

Listen Up! - The Crookes

Sometimes I hear something on the radio and BAM! It hits me, right in the magical music spot. I generally run to the radio, turn it up loud, and dance around the kitchen. That right there is a sign that I'm on to a winner.

Here is this week's winner - The Crookes. Hailing from fair Sheffield, their new album 'Lucky Ones' is out on 29th January. Needless to say it's already on pre-order.

Enjoy!

Listen Up! - The Swinging Dice

It's Friday, it's a new year, let's take some time for some new music. I discovered The Swinging Dice via Imelda May (if you haven't already, go seek her out, very highly recommended!) and they are all kinds of fab. Rocking, swinging, and French (ooh la la) their debut album is frankly, brilliant.

Have a listen above to the title track, and if you like it, head on over to the Swinging Dice website to order it directly. You can either buy the CD or vinyl, or you can buy the digital version via Bandcamp. If you do choose the digital option, you can download the Bandcamp app and listen directly from there. Instant and brilliant. I am loving them!

Listen Up! - She and Him Christmas

This album is now on constant rotation in the house of Claire and Dave.

Best Christmas album ever, hands down. But not best single, as that is clearly 'Fairytale of New York' by Kirsty MacColl and The Pogues.  

You're welcome.

Listen Up! - Sadie Fleming

There's no video as such to watch but it's definitely worth pressing play to hear the lovely voice of Sadie Fleming. This song makes me think of cosy evenings by a crackling fire (if only we still had one...), a glass of red in one hand and something yummy to eat in the other, lights dimmed low, with this playing in the background. Lovely.

Rediscovery - Listen Up!

A recent day of being back on the bus meant ears in and music on. Somewhere along the way I clicked on The Vaccines and have been obsessed ever since. This is from 2012 and it's a bloody brilliant song. I had to force myself to keep my mouth shut and not just burst into loudly singing along. Not entirely appropriate for bus times. 

But perfect for kitchen times. 

Press play and sing it with me...

Listen Up!

It's Friday again, let's have some more new music. As if last week's revelation of my enjoying #popsynth wasn't enough, my new music journey is apparently now taking me to #melodichouse

WTF?

Don't even ask how this is happening. I think my ears have gone insane.

If you want to join me on this new journey then press play and have a listen to Felix Jaehn. Apparently he's a producer and this means (I think) that he does remixes. See, I told you, guitar music runs thick through my veins and I have no idea of all this jangly-dangly down with the kids music terminology. AC/DC forever!

What say your ears?

Listen Up!

I never thought the day would come that I would be anything other than a rock/indie girl with guitar music forever running through my veins but apparently I now like something that falls into the #popsynth category. Don't tell anyone but lately I've even found myself listening to stuff that probably just falls into the #pop category (Taylor Swift sing-along anyone) eep! I'm deciding that it's okay as we humans are continually evolving and therefore it's okay to deviate away from the norm occasionally.

And so I present Gunship. #popsynth

Don't be put off by the hashtag category, it's actually pretty bloody cool and I might even have done a cheeky download of their album, even though I am poorer than a church mouse at the moment. If you don't have money you might as well have brilliant music for your ears (and an overdraft...)

Enjoy!

Live! - Samantha Durnan and Skinny Living

Two gigs in two weeks! If it weren't for the crappy English weather that would be a stonking start to Summer right there (COME ON sunshine!).

Back to my beloved Georgian Theatre in Stockton for a Sunday evening (school night!) of some live music. This time in the shape of Samantha Durnan on support and Skinny Living as the headliners. 

I might be wrong but I think that I first saw Samantha Durnan play in Mink. She definitely has potential - she's got a cracking voice, particularly when she rocks it out, much like she did when she covered KT Tunstall's Black Horse and the Cherry Tree. Yep, right there, keep that up. I think it's really interesting that she's writing her own stuff but that kind of ballad leaves me feeling a little underwhelmed to be honest. Having said that, she's just starting out and I reckon she's one to keep an eye on for definite. 

I had no preconception of Skinny Living. We pretty much decided to buy the tickets when we saw an ad for them on the screen when we were at The Strypes - impulse purchase! After Samantha Durnan finished I expected the instruments to start rolling out, but they had 4 microphones and a box. The box turned out to be the drum, and there were two guitarists, and the lead singer. Ooh but they were good! 

The band were funny, sweet, with good song lyrics, and a really interesting sound. Who knew that you could sit on a box and use it as a drum?! I'm sure it wasn't just any old box, but you know, clever! One guitarist used his guitar for some beats as well, and overall they had a really nice harmony that was utterly delightful and a real pleasure for the ears. They've just played the Isle of Wight festival so they must be touring around the circuit - I would most certainly recommend a listen if you get a chance to catch them. My favourite song was Storybook which you can watch below - but add two more band members and the special box and you get a whole other sound going on. I like. A lot. 

Oh and to the people behind us who talked their whole way through Skinny Living's set? Learn some effin manners and respect. Pet hate right there. 

Take it away, boys...

Listen Up!

There's a rumour that Summer might be starting soon...so you definitely need a song that is ideal for dancing around the fields. Or your garden. Or your kitchen. Wherever you get your dance on. 


So I present Circa Waves. 


To the fields, friends! 

Listen Up!

I would say my music taste, a little like a lot of my other tastes in life, spans far and wide. I'm totally open to all kinds and if I like it then I want to be hearing it a whole lot. Listen Up! will be a regular series of new discoveries, music that I'm loving right now, or maybe just rediscovered old school tunes that are filling me with that dancing feet feeling. 


First up in Listen Up! is Jess Glynne. I'd heard a lot of her songs on the radio but didn't really know much about her until I watched some coverage of Radio 1's Big Weekend. And she's a cool chick. Like totally cool. She's a red headed curly girlie with an amazing voice and a whole lot of strutty attitude. Like. A lot. I've already pre-ordered her album which is due for release in August 15: I Laugh When I Cry. 


Open your ears and enjoy (or not, each to their own and all that)