Tag Archives: marina and the diamonds

August 23, 2010 · 11:25 am

Leeds Festival 2010: If you don’t like ‘metal’ music…

Off to my first Leeds Festival tomorrow. The line-up isn’t really my sort of thing but Arcade Fire are playing which MAJORLY influenced my reason to go. There are a few other good bands though, if you look around and mostly avoid the main stage. Here are my top 10 bands you should consider catching if rock and metal really isn’t your thing…

1. Arcade Fire

This is going to be amazing, it has to be, I’ve built it up so much. I don’t think they will disappoint. Watch this…

2. Mumford & Sons

I think Marcus and the boys appear in every live list I make, but they are really quite amazing.

3. Marina and the Diamonds

Marina is headlining the festival republic stage on Sunday and is someone who I would really like to see again. She is incredibly charismatic and really lovely on stage. Plus the alternative is Guns and Roses which I’m not really feeling.

4. Warpaint

They were my New Treat in the post before this one and I am really looking forward to hopefully catching them live. A really beautiful band who I believe have good things to come and it will be really interested to see how their music is presented live. See them on the festival republic stage too, a few bands before Marina.

5. I Blame Coco

Another young lady with some brilliant things ahead of her, Coco Sumner, daughter of Sting, will bring her catchy songs and reggae inspired voice to the Festival Republic stage on Friday.

6. Dizzee Rascal

Back to the main stage for my No.1 guilty pleasure. After seeing him at Glastonbury I am really excited about catching Dizzee again. He appears third on the bill on Friday and is sure to attract a massive crowd and some massive tunes.

7. Summer Camp

Summer Camp also appear on pretty much every list I write at the moment. Another one to watch and another one to grace the festival republic stage on Sunday.

8. Mystery Jets

They were brilliant at Big Chill and so I would definitely like to catch them at Leeds. Lots of catchy songs and really good stage presence. They take to the main stage on Friday.

9. Darwin Deez

If anyone fancies some crazy dancing and an over-all good time show, catch Darwin on Friday on the Festival Republic Stage.

10. Transgressive Records & Friends Closing Party

Anyone up for a party on the last night? This one should be a lovely starter as playing shall be Chew Lips, Everything Everything, the mighty Slow Club and many more. There will also be Transgressive and Rockfeedback DJ’s in between bands. Watch all this on Sunday night on the Alternative Stage.

I’d also recommend… Wild Beasts, Local Natives, Adam Green, Avi Buffalo and Freelance Whales. Enjoy if your going to Leeds or Reading!

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June 4, 2010 · 11:59 am

Gig Review: Marina and the Diamonds @ Leeds Met

The last time I saw Marina and the Diamonds was at Glastonbury 2009. She was pretty much unknown and to be honest, quite bad. Since being placed second on the BBC Sound of 2009 list, things have got better and better for Marina and her Diamonds. Her album is really over-produced but some of it is brilliant and I really like her acoustic. On Monday I went to Leeds Met to see her again, and thankfully, she was much much improved. Her voice is pretty flawless live and her energy is brilliant. I don’t think I’ve ever been to a gig before with outfit changes but she did 3! My favourite part of the set was when she played piano, that’s when I like Marina best. Overall, probably the most interesting this to happen to pop music since GaGa and Marina also seems much more real.

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February 27, 2010 · 2:00 pm

Album Review: The Family Jewels- Marina and the Diamonds

Marina and the Diamonds is an artist who has considerably grown on me. When I first heard her at Glastonbury last year I wasn’t sure if I liked her, but I gave her another listen when she was nominated for the BBC Sound of 2010 and I found a video of her playing Obsessions acoustic (watch below), and since seeing that I have been hooked. Her album ‘The Family Jewels’ Has received mixed reviews, some claiming she’s the next Kate Bush, others saying its dull and unoriginal. One thing I hear from the album is that she is definitely not unoriginal, I think incredibly unique. She’s making true pop-music, but rather than being manufactured and fake, its real. Songs such as ‘Hollywood’, ‘Shampain’ and ‘Mowglis Road’ show she can write a truly brilliant pop song, but its the darker sides of the album which I prefer. ‘Rootless’, ‘Obsessions’ and ‘The Outsider’ are all my personal highlights of the album. It’s this depth and darkness of the album, mixed with the brilliant pop songs which makes the album very unique. There are a few moments on the album where she over does the weirdness of her voice and a few of the songs have maybe too much effects and technology in them. I prefer Marina stripped down, just her voice and a piano line. I think she could do very well in the pop scene, I just hope she doesn’t over do pop and then forgets that she is really a song-writer and a very unique singer. So at the moment, I am a little undecided, although I think she’s brilliant, I also think its a little overproduced. It will be interesting to see if she is received as a pop star or as an alternative artist.

Best Tracks: Obsessions, Hollywood and Rootless (available as a free download as iTunes Single of the Week)

Rating: 3/5

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February 2, 2010 · 8:07 pm

Get your Communion Compilation now!

You can now pre-order your vinyl copy of Communion and get the mp3 files now! I have got mine, I will review it sometime but I am only on the first song so far! For people who don’t know, Communion is a folk night organised by Ben Lovett (yummy keyboard player of Mumford and Sons) and Kevin Jones (ex-Cherbourg). They have lots of lovely wonderful bands playing, including Mumford and Sons, Laura Marling, Peggy Sue, Blue Roses, Alessi and lots lots more. They have also expanded and now do nights in Leeds. They are all listed on the ‘Leeds Gigs’ page above. So this record is like a selection of lots of bands which have performed at Communion. They are all based around the ‘nu-folk’ scene in London and includes the likes of Johnny Flynn, Peggy Sue, Alessi, Pete Roe, Jesse Quin and Mumford and Sons among many others. It looks to be very special! You can get it here

In other news, Peggy Sue will be playing album launch gigs in Leeds, Glasgow and London at the end of March. You can get a special ticket which means you get the album along with a ticket, in Leeds this is all for £11! Amazing! Go here for ticket info.

And also, Marina and the Diamonds is going on quite a big tour in May. Tickets go on general sale on Friday morning, but the pre-sale for people signed up for the fan section on her website is tomorrow.

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January 10, 2010 · 9:00 pm

At the moment I love…

What I have been listening to in the last few days…

Marina and the Diamonds! Marina has grown on me so much, I think I love her now. How great is this…

I love the bit where she goes ‘OMG you look just like Shakira, no no your Catherine Zeta, actually my names Marina’. I love it how when you hear her talk about her influences, she seems so influenced by visuals, such as fashion and nature, rather than music. I think this is a rare thing in an artist, but a great thing as it makes her very unique.

I am very excited about the new Johnny Flynn stuff, there is lots of the tracks floating round YouTube which I think will appear on the next album. The Water is my favourite, there is a beautiful version on YouTube of him and Laura Marling, it is below. There voices are stunning together! Two of my favourite people ever.

I also found this on YouTube, the quality is a bit bad, alot of chatter in the background. But it is Marcus Mumford performing The Water with Johnny. If you listen its quite lovely. I like the whistling bit towards the end.

I love the Mumford and Sons documentaries. How nice are all the sons, to look at and to listen to :) . Only Part 1 of the Gentlemen of the Road documentary has been released, but it sure is good. I can’t find it on YouTube but here is a link to it on facebook, I hope it works :S

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=410703235132&ref=mf

The last is the acoustic version of Wake Up by the Arcade Fire. The track was used in the film Where the Wild Things Are (which I still haven’t seen arghhh). I posted it ages ago, but here it is again for you to download.

Download below…

Arcade Fire- Wake Up (Acoustic)

New Treat coming in the next few days! x

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January 8, 2010 · 7:32 pm

New Year, Lots of New Albums!

I’m really excited about music this year, both all the new music that I have fallen in love with and also old bands who are back with another album. Today Laura Marling announced the release date, title and tracklisting for her album so I thought I would make a little post about some of the lovely albums to come in the next few months…

Vampire Weekend- Contra- January 11th 2010

The second album from the delightful Vampire Weekend. To pre-order and for the track listing go here (amazon). They are also doing a UK tour at the start of February but the dates are all sold out.

Marina and the Diamonds- Family Jewels- February 15th 2010

BBC’s Sound of 2010 number 2, Marina and the Diamonds, a singer who has grown on me alot in the last week or so, will release her album Family Jewels in February. She also has a tour planned for February. Pre order and track listing here (amazon).

Laura Marling- I Speak because I can- March 22nd (or 1st March?)

What a lovely album title, and set to be a rather beautiful album too! With songs such as Blackberry Stone, Made by Maid and Hope in the Air. Laura has a tour planned for April, tickets are still available, get them quick if you wanna go! Pre-order here (amazon).

Peggy Sue- Fossils and Other Phantoms- April 2010

A very exciting concept, Peggy Sue with an album! I think it might be rather special, but we will have to wait until April to see. I don’t think its avaliable for Pre order anywhere, but if you go to their website and enter your password, they are giving away a free track of Hatstand Blues. Go here.

Ellie Goulding- Lights- March 1st 2010

Ellie, it was today announced is BBC’s Sound of 2010 winner! I am very excited about how this year is going to pan out for her. She has a tour planned for April, tickets are still available, but get them quick as I don’t know how much longer for. I can’t seem to find a track listing for this record but you can pre order here.

Broadcast 2000 (self-titled album)- February 15th 2010

The first full album from this exciting band who I hope will do well this year. They made an album trailer below, which is rather beautiful, but I can’t find any track listings or places to pre-order. If your around Leeds, they are playing for free at Nation of Shopkeepers with Alessi’s Ark and Rachael Dadd on 21st February, so come along!

First Aid Kit- The Big, The Black and the Blue- 25th January

The Swedish sister duo release there first album this month, followed by a full UK tour in February/March. The album includes all new tracks, non from the Drunken Trees EP released a few years ago. Tracklisting is here, and pre order here (amazon).

Other bands set to release albums in early 2010: Arcade Fire, Johnny Flynn (just announced a full band mini-tour for next month, dates), Bon Iver?, Fleet Foxes?

Going to be a good year for music!

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January 6, 2010 · 8:12 pm

Marina and the Diamonds

are considerably growing on me. I rather like this…

The RayBan balcony sessions have some lovely bands, including a beautiful Laura Marling, Peggy Sue, Florence. Cherbourg and Theoretical Girl, the website is here

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January 1, 2010 · 10:59 pm

My Predictions for 2010!

Happy New Year! This is the first post of 2010! It’s gonna be a good year, I can feel it. At the moment there are quite a few lists about for predictions of bands which are gonna be big next year. I have decided to do a little selection of bands I think will have success next year, or bands I hope will. There success might not be massive like Florence or La Roux this year, but I hope they will have some success, even if it stays under the radar.

Ellie Goulding

Ellie was my New Treat a few days ago and is the post below this one so look their for some mp3′s, videos and a full description on my thoughts on her. I predict big things for this lady this year. She’s mentioned on every list I have come across for ones to watch next year, and rightly so, she’s amazing.

Peggy Sue

I love love love Peggy Sue and have done ages, but I think that 2010 is gonna be their year. Following the success of Mumford and Sons last year, and as there album is due to be released in the springtime, I think they could do very very well. I hope they do as they really deserve it. The video I have chosen to post I posted a while back but I think its wonderful and beautifully shot so here it is again.

Local Natives

I thought they would do pretty well in 2009 but they have definitely slipped under the radar. Gutted. Local Natives are like a mixture between Fleet Foxes and Vampire Weekend, certainly not a bad combination. There album is already out and a UK tour planned for later this year. I love his voice, its really pure and breathy.

Fanfarlo

Yay! Fanfarlo are a wonderful band. I saw them live on there tour with First Aid Kit and they are really very good. There album is such a beautiful collection of songs. When I made a Top 5 albums of 2009 list in December, they would probably be number 6. This video is of them at Bandstand Busking.

Marina and the Diamonds

I saw Marina and the Diamonds at Glastonbury and I wasn’t overly impressed but I do really like the edgy, strange thing she is bringing to pop music. Her voice is a little like Kate Bush, and her songs are catchy so I think she will do well. Her album is out in February I think.

Broadcast 2000

I don’t think they will have any big commercial success, but they might do pretty well within the folk scene. For Leeds people, there playing for free at Nation of Shopkeepers along with Alessi’s Ark and Rachael Dadd (what a gig! be there)

King Charles

I’m confused whether I love or hate King Charles. This song is pretty addictive and if he produces more like it he could do rather well.

Other bands I think will do good are Owl City, Starsmith, Stornaway, Daisy Dares You, Rox.

I also think The Arcade Fire will have a massive come back as they have a new album out. I predict some anthems in the making.

So, 2010 is looking sunny :) If you have any suggestions of other bands you would like to do well, I would love to listen. Happy New Year again!

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