Camera Obscura – Lloyd, I'm Ready to Be Heartbroken

In 1984, Lloyd Cole and the Commotions released their debut album. One of the songs on the album is named 'Are You Ready to Be Heartbroken?'

In 2006, Scottish indie-pop band Camera Obscura released 'Lloyd, I'm Ready to Be Heartbroken'.

There's a lot of good things to be said about a band whose album cover is twee, filled with reference, and features a person who looks both fearful and freaked out.

The song sounds like it's simultaneously performed by an indie-pop band and an orchestra, with a classic organ intro that leads into a reverby-ish Phil Spector thing with a jangly guitar melody. Produced by the guitarist from The Bear Quartet and one third of Peter Bjorn and John, this is a golden little nugget of indie-pop sweetness.

I love how the singer sounds bored. The violin works well in this track. It's very well-produced. Horns come and go. The guitar, drums, and horns go well together. Aah. Thank you, all involved.

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Xiu Xiu – Xiu Mutha Fuckin' Xiu: Vol. 1

Xiu Xiu are one of my favourite modern bands. God damn it. They're rock 'n' roll, experimental, fun, funny, and noise. And a lot more.

They've just unveiled their next album, a covers project that's today available for pre-order: Xiu Mutha Fuckin' Xiu: Vol. 1.

I love Daniel Johnston. They've covered one of his beautiful songs:

The second cover that they've unveiled today is The Runaways' ultra-fine 'Cherry Bomb':

Complete album track list:

Side A – Psycho Killer [Talking Heads]
– Warm Leatherette [The Normal/Grace Jones]
– I Put a Spell on You [Screamin' Jay Hawkins]
– Hamburger Lady [Throbbing Gristle]
– In Dreams [Roy Orbison]
– Sex Dwarf [Soft Cell]

Side B – Dancing on My Own [Robyn]
– SPQR [This Heat]
– Lick or Sum [GloRilla]
– Some Things Last a Long Time [Daniel Johnston]
– Triple Sun [Coil]
– Cherry Bomb [The Runaways]

Their merch is some of the funniest shit ever produced by a band. I mean, from switchblades to a mesh jersey that says XIU XIU 69:

Long live MF XX.

#music #XiuXiu

Hooked (Hyams Gym, Leytonstone)

The Bug is Kevin Martin: dub entrepreneur, musician, and collaborative person. He made Curse of the Golden Vampire together with Alec Empire, the main person behind one of my old favourite electronic hardcore bands, Atari Teenage Riot; the album is a sort of mix between dubstep and electronic hardcore; it didn't really work most of the time but it is important to me.

This album reminds me of the album My Demons by Distance, a dubstep composer and musician:

Of course, Distance's music is much more loop-based and clinical than what music is currently made by The Bug. I prefer the organic, not the clinical.

The music by The Bug and Distance remind me of Blade Runner; somewhere in the clouds above Japanese skyscrapers that resemble Vangelis's fantastic and magnificent soundscape:

The Bug's music is more gritty and down-to-earth than what Vangelis cooked up, but then, Vangelis probably influenced most musicians in different ways.

I wish GZA would issue what he made with Vangelis.

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Fontaines D.C. – 'Starburster'

I like the song and I really like the video.

Videos like these are sublime.

The Fontaines video reminds me of Xiu Xiu's NSFW video for 'Common Loon'.

#music #XiuXiu