Tag Archives: florence and the machine

December 21, 2009 · 4:11 pm

Best Songs of 2009!

There are so many songs which define this year, from the terrible songs of Lady Gaga to the amazing success of alternative bands such as the Temper Trap. This is a list of some of the songs which has defined my year:

Florence and the Machine- You’ve Got the Love

Florence is amazing, and this song was made for her. I think it deserved alot more success than it got, but even so, amazing song!

La Roux- In For The Kill

Love her or hate her, and despite her apparently being pretty bad live, this song is amazing to dance to and sticks forever in your head.

Noah and the Whale- Blue Skies

One of my albums of the year is The First Days of Spring, the second album from Noah and the Whale, which was written along with a film. This song defines both the album and the film and is just a beautiful summer song.

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes- Home

Edward Sharpe do not fail to make me happy and this song makes me wanna jig about, and run barefoot through the desert, total freedom.

The Temper Trap- Sweet Disposition

A band which you would normally think would stay under the radar, saved only for alternative fans, but this song has had massive success this year which they really deserve.

Mumford and Sons- Little Lion Man

I have loved Mumford and Sons for so long and this song got people wouldn’t normally listen to folk music to do so, I predict wonderful things for next year!

Jamie T- Sticks and Stones

This song reminds me of Glastonbury so much! A artist I would never normally listen to but this song made my summer!

The Yeah Yeah Yeahs- Heads Will Roll

I am not at all a dance music fan, but Karen O is amazing (listen to her soundtrack for Where the Wild Things Are) and this song again, like In For The Kill, is amazing to dance.

Lily Allen- Not Fair

Lily Allen was back this year and this song was my favourite of her album! She also gave an amazing Glastonbury performance!

The XX- Crystalised

A band I really should listen to more of, and who I think will have massive success in the future, this song is amazing.

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Tagged as edward sharpe, florence and the machine, jamie t, karen o, la roux, lily allen, mumford and sons, noah and the whale, temper trap, the xx, yeah yeah yeahs

· 3:44 pm

Event of 2009: Glastonbury!

I am planning to do a couple of little blog’s about some of the best things of my 2009! I’m starting with the best event, and I think overall best thing EVER! Glastonbury! I love Glastonbury so much, I think I was made to live there. The sun, the amazing line-up, the cider, the craziness, the freedom, the love between everyone. Everyone is just their to have an amazing time and that’s what makes it so amazing in itself. This year the band was flawless for my music taste, Florence, Regina, Neil Young, Marling and Mumford, Fleet Foxes, Johnny Flynn, Peggy Sue, Slow Club, Bat for Lashes, Alessi… I could go on and on and on. The musical highlight was definitely Florence on the John Peel Stage and the secret Mumford/Marling gig in the Greenpeace tent.

Here is Florence talking a little about the festival:

And this is my own video of Laura Marling playing a new, still nameless song:

Glastonbury is Amazing!

The Best New Albums of 2009!

At the moment, everyone is going crazy for the best albums of the year, and the best of the decade. I don’t feel I have enough musical experience to write about the best of the decades as at the start of the decade I was only 10. So I have decided to do a top 5 best new albums of 2009, including albums which were the first from that band. I haven’t included free mp3′s of any of the album tracks as I think if you like the artist you should buy the album but there are some exclusive tracks and videos for you. People who keep up with the blog may have been able to predict this list, but here goes…

5. Alessi’s Ark- Notes from a Treehouse

I discovered Alessi’s Ark this year when I saw her play at Live at Leeds back in May, I instantly fell in love with her music and her voice. This album, from beginning to end is made up of sweet songs, with so much honesty and innocence. My favourites are Woman and The Horse. This is a video which came in the exclusive album content but is now on YouTube. I think I posted it a few weeks back, but I cannot get enough, its beautiful! The song is called Dancing Feet and its performed with Ben from Mumford and Sons (yesss)…

4. Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes- Up From Below

If this album doesn’t fill you with joy then nothing will. These desert hippies have created an album of beauty, happiness and lots and lots of hippyness. It makes me wanna screw modern life, move to the dessert, take lots of drugs and live freely. Best tracks are Home, Janglin and Om Nashi Me. Overall a truly beautiful high spirited album! This is the day trotter session of Home…

Home (Daytrotter Session)- Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes

3. Florence and the Machine- Lungs

Lungs is a masterpiece from the eccentric, talented and beautiful Florence Welch. The album consists of songs which you cannot define into a genre but are all incredibly unique. With harp splashed all over it, mixed with the incredible vocals of Florence and the backing of her machine, she hasn’t gone a step wrong with this album. My favourite tracks are Between Two Lungs and Dog Days are Over. This is a video of Ghosts (now I’m not calling you a Liar), filmed over a year ago for BBC Introducing, and it was these videos that last year made me fall in love with her…

2. Blue Roses- Blue Roses

Probaly the lesser known of all these albums is Blue Roses’ self titled album. And what a shame this is! Blue Roses is the work of singer/songwriter Laura Groves whose stunningly unique voice and beautiful folk songs stole my heart. This album is made up of delicate songs and the stunning voice of Laura shines through. I always listen to this album to relax, its perfect. My favourite tracks are Coast and Greatest Thoughts. This is Coast at Bankstand Busking…

And this is her cover of Golden Slumbers, by the Beatles…

Blue Roses- Golden Slumbers (The Beatles Cover)

1. Mumford and Sons- Sign No More

Mumford and Sons are my favourite band in the world! They are just so good! Every time I see them live I am blown away, and this album too blew me away. I already had most of the songs from the EP’s but these songs were all newly recorded and so some were different. The new tracks Timshel, Thistle and Weeds, Dust bowl Dance and I Gave You all, did not disappoint. The album is made up of stunning harmonies between the four of them and the gorgeous voice of Marcus, with an excess of banjo, some nice accordion and other folky things. The whole album is perfectly wonderful! If you don’t have it, get it, and if you haven’t seen them live, do it! I am so glad that they are now getting some of the recognition they deserve. My favourite tracks are Roll Away Your Stone, Sign No More, and I Gave You All. Here is one of their bookshop sessions of White Blank Page…

And this is a song which isn’t on their album but was released on an earlier EP, its called Liar…

Mumford and Sons- Liar

So that’s it, my favourite new albums of 2009! I hope you enjoy listening to them all, I think their all on Spotify too. Thanks for reading, xxx

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Tagged as alessi's ark, blue roses, edward sharpe, florence and the machine, mumford and sons

December 12, 2009 · 1:11 pm

Review: Florence and the Machine at Manchester Apollo!

On Monday I managed to get last minute tickets to the sold out Florence and the Machine in Manchester gig. So on Thurday, for the third time this year, I saw Florence. Supporting her were the Temper Trap and a band I don’t remember the name of but reminded me of The Smiths. The Temper Trap were amazing, I haven’t listened to much of there stuff except for Sweet Disposition, but I was really impressed by his voice. Sweet Disposition of course was amazing, it is rare to get such a reaction to the support band but everyone was singing along.

People seem to have very mixed views about Florence, some saying she’s a typical manufactured pop-star, who can’t really sing, others saying she’s incredible, so unique, unlike anything else around, and one of the best live acts in the world. I am definitely of that last opinion. On stage she’s humble, constantly thanking the audience for being so wonderful, and eccentric, jumping all over the stage, standing on the speakers. But when she sings, her voice is exactly like on record. She sang through mainly album tracks, a few b-sides and some songs of bonus disc to the deluxe album. I think of her as a modern day Grace Slick. People without this opinion to see her live, you will be instantly converted. This video is one of the bonus videos off her album, its of Between Two Lungs.

Florence does Beirut?

I found a rather nice cover yesterday on the Hype Machine. It shouldn’t work, but it really does. This is Florence and the Machine, covering Beirut’s Postcards from Italy

Florence and the Machine – Postcards from Italy

Everyone should also watch this!

http://www.rockfeedback.com/tv/direct/channels/297400/553052/