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Throwback Thursday SXSW Song of the day: Coldplay – The Scientist

Posted on by Ricky in Song of the Day, South By Southwest | Leave a comment

coldplay

It’s hard to believe that it’s been well over a decade since a rainswept Chris Martin strolled off a shitty beach and into our consciousness with that inescapable song Yellow.

Since then he has married Gwyneth Paltrow, wrote political things on his hand, named his children Moses, Table, Apple, Gravy and Northeast and generally tried to become U2. Coldplay’s popularity has not suffered- in fact, it has exploded and they are probably one of the biggest bands in the world today.

it was announced on Wednesday that Coldplay was playing Sxsw as part of the ITunes festival and so it brings this band back into my view years after I had abandoned them. Which brings me back to reminisce about their classic song “The Scientist”.

Featuring Chris Martin’s trademark sad singing accompanied by a touching piano arrangement, The Scientist was a track off their second album that help propelled the band into super stardom. You know, for what it’s worth, this was a reasonable song. On top of that, it had a really good video and gave us the classic line “Nobody said it was easy/nobody said it was so hard” which I’ve used in at least several witty Facebook comment threads. I think most people know the lyrics to this song anyway. Anyways, Coldplay are playing SXSW, maybe they are trying to gain back some indie cred. Maybe Apple paid them a million dollars. Regardless, they will be in Austin, playing the gorgeous Moody Theatre, and probably inspiring a million tweets from former hipsters losing their shit over songs like this.

Song of the Day: Carsick Cars – 15 Minutes Older

Posted on by Ricky in Song of the Day | Leave a comment

An indie rock band from Beijing, Carsick Cars have been around for awhile. I did not discover them until today, much like some ancient Chinese relic that a treasure hunter just discovered or something. Their new album, conveniently titled 3, has got some power to it, as it is produced by Sonic Boom of Spacemen 3.

Just one listen to the track “15 Minutes Older” will bring out all the noisey rock fuzzy guitar feelings you have bottled up for no reason. It’s good stuff, and will make you want to put on a pair of jeans, a dirty t-shirt and play air guitar. The group is on tour in North America the next month, so have a listen and check them out.

SXSW Song of the Day: Eagulls – Tough Luck

Posted on by Ricky in Everything, Song of the Day | Leave a comment

eagulls

Every year, young, brash men from England descend over here in groups of three or four, guitar in hand and ready to impress. Some, like Bastille, aspire to sound like Coldplay, while others, aspire to be something different. Eagulls is a band from Leeds with either an amazing or a horrible name, I can’t decide. What I can decide on is that they bring a fresh breath of rock with them. I think some people call them post-punk, but whatever, it is just good, loud rock and roll. Their debut album is out March 4, which is convenient because they will have that in hand with them as they try to take over the world in Austin a week later.

Song of the Day: Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings:

Posted on by Celeste in Song of the Day | Leave a comment

sharon_jones

This was recently written about Ms. Sharon Jones of Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings:

“She pulls her notes up at the end, like a person endorsing a check for $1 million and then throwing the pen on the floor.”

Source: http://www.emusic.com/music-news/interview/sharon-jones-interview/

That’s pretty much all I need to know about a musician to be smitten. I mean honestly. Will that ever be written about you? When I write I check, double check, and then triple check the amount, carefully unclick the pen and put it back in my pen holder. Needless to say, that sentence will never be written about me.

Just watch her video for “Retreat!” from her latest album, “Give the People What They Want” (such a fantastic title.) It includes a strong female lead and a sparkly dress so fabulous that it can repel wolves. Doubly smitten.