Our ancestors are dropping.

GRANDADDY


Oh, it's such a shame that Grandaddy have called it a day. I first got into them post-Polyphonic Spree, upon hearing that the Spree's first show was supporting the Grandfathers. Would the Spree have happened if it weren't for Grandaddy? Probably! But they formed especially for this support slot (so the legend goes), so we owe Grandaddy something for the Spree.

But it's not like we don't owe them something already. They were (and still will be up until the release of Just Like The Fambly Cat in a couple of months time) one hell of an indie rock group. Huge chunks of their records are drugged-up sound experimentations, but the rest was a fantastic stuffed piniata full of hugely *different* pop tunes. Slotting their varied sounds together perfectly, all 3 of their albums so far have been beautifully quirky soundscapes.

Possibly their most accessible album is 2003's Sumday. Often regarded as their worst - for a reason that I just can't comprehend - it's filled to the brim with pop classics (perhaps this is the reason that I can't comprehend).

Nature Anthem (Video)
A one-off track from Jason Lyttle's 'Below The Radio' mixtape compilation, 'The Nature Anthem' hits the ear like a sunshinin' scouts' manifesto. The video is cute. Just really cute. I recommended you download to watch and rewatch as you approach and/or long for the summer.

Live in Lekester, 2000
Here's a link to the Grandaddy forum where links are provided to an entire live concert in Lekester. Sure, this was actually recorded in Leicester but the mislabelling on the file tags is just another charming Grandaddy misspelling to me ("Sophtware Slump", "Sumday", "Fambly Cat"). I recommend you download them one at a time, because when I tried to do multiple transfers, it kept breaking. Maybe that's just me. Highlights = The Crystal Lake, Summer Here Kids & AM 180 (non-Grandaddiers may recognise AM 180 from 28 Days Later). Enjoy!

Official site


-And while we're (kinda) on the subject of The Polyphonic Spree, I should mention that they've lovingly decided to write a blog during the making of their 3rd record 'The Fragile Army'. Recording phase 1 in the famous Pachyderm Studio with their 8 core members, we're being treated to a brilliantly intimate look-in on the processes involved in bringing this widescreen rock opera to disc (I've heard enough from it live to warrant it being 2006's best album already). Stick it on your bookmarks there!

For the readers amongst you.

GOODBOOKS


GoodBooks: 2 words joined together because they have nice double "o" sounds. The band also have a nice sound. Coincidental? I think not.

Passchendaele [Demo]
A drum machine's blips gets procedures underway, and thus begins them being influenced by Kraftwerk and The Postal Service. But pity for Leo (on drums) is quickly forgotten because then we get the lovely keyboard-led narrative telling of a married man leaving to go to war. But the melodically delicious chorus is the clincher. And once it hits the uptempo art rock section, we don't get to look back. A brassy middle eight informs us of the band's originality. It should be noted that the soldier carried guns, and not "English mayonnaise".

Walk With Me [Demo]
The slow burning debut single.. Then the Franz-type riff kicks in and Max begins to yell. The "walk with me" refrain is sure to be a highlight of their live set.

Their myspace, containing the 2 songs above and a rap remix!

Official site

Ever wanted to make your devils flow? Try some of this.

THE IMMEDIATE


The Immediate are a 4 piece group from Dublin, who sound completely unlike anything I've ever heard come out of Dublin. They blend all sorts of magnificent sounds but never stray from the beautifully melodic. Signed to Fantastic Plastic Records, they have an EP 'Make Our Devils Flow' coming out in February and their recently completed (and fantastically titled) debut album 'In Towers And Clouds' will be on the shelves by May.

Live, they're a hectic explosion, with the drummer becoming the guitarist before becoming the singer before becoming a ballroom dancer. And the others shed their skins just as often, leading an onlooker at a recent show to state the ridiculously obvious: "It's like musical chairs."

Aspects
Mmmm, that's good use of a delay pedal. Added to it are the pounding drums and the refrain which has almost become the band manifesto: "Trying to be romantic with the modern world."

Never Seen
Their debut single, from their limited release in early 2005, this is an art rock stompalong drawing to mind some sort of amalgamation of Radiohead and the Strokes. Pop being fucked with.

Their myspace, with streaming demo versions of 4 tracks from the LP.

Official site

If you can't be scared of music, what CAN you be scared of?

FEAR OF MUSIC


They're 4 teenagers from Manchester who've caused quite a stir in the underground with their debut eponymous EP. Listening to it, well! How could you guess their ages from it? You couldn't. Simple! Now, they've been signed by Sony and are going to be massive.

There's quite a scent of easyworld, Weezer, Muse and Pixies being emitted from them... Oh, just figure them out for yourselves.

Skin and Bones

Strange Kind Of Terror

The Waltz (acoustic demo)

Their myspace, which contains 3 other streaming songs and the psychedelic video for 'Skin and Bones'

Official site