This was supposed to be the highlight of my Big Day Out. I’m not exactly across the Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ entire discography, but with a back catalogue featuring modern classics like “Zero,” “Date with the Night” and the achingly melancholic “Maps” (one of the best songs of the past decade), I had high expectations.
Sleigh Bells’ stage was sparsely attended, due to coinciding with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bloody Beetroots and Animal Collective. Their stage, with darkness swathed in atmospheric smoke pierced with spot- and strobe lights, created an enclosed atmosphere that intensified the proximity; it was like being a nightclub (with enough space to dance!). It didn’t…
5. Kendrick Lamar – good kid m.A.A.d city Carefully constructed hip-hop production helmed by Lamar’s confident, languid flow and – most importantly – a distinct personality shining through. Highlight: Good Kid 4. Graham Coxon – A+E Until this album, I’d assumed I loved Blur thanks to Damon Albarn. A+E, filled with jagged, fuzzy guitar pop…
You may have noticed that Carbon Copy has been very film-centric lately. It’s not an intentional thing! I just happen to be on holidays, which provides a great opportunity to watch (and write about) lots of films. But music hasn’t been getting much love lately, so I thought I’d match my top 10 films list…
Dubstep has been the whipping boy of popular culture for some time now. It’s not undeserved; there are plenty of genuinely terrible songs in the genre (Nero – Crush On You and Benny Benassi – Cinema (Skrillex Remix) are good examples of the lazy, paint-by-numbers songwriting that warrants the hate), but a lot of the…
The best live shows are born of either professionalism (which tends to go hand-in-hand with competent musicianship) or, more often, enthusiasm, a group or artist obviously enjoying themselves on stage. Last night’s performance by Hot Chip had both professionalism and enthusiasm in spades. It also featured the lost art of careful setlist structuring (ie. not…
Orlando Higginbottom, better known as Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, has an ice-blue sterility on record, detached electro paired with simple yet heartfelt adolescent lyrics. I’d expected a warmer sound live, but instead his live set accentuated the aloofness. He performed in ornamental regalia, bordered by dancing girls who intermittently cavorted to the music. They seemed…
My favourite live shows in 2012 were… 5. Regurgitator (The Hi-Fi): I’ve seen the ‘Gurge a bunch of times, but this gig was truly outstanding, featuring performance of both “Unit” and “Tu-Plang” in full (plus a surprise Devo cover!). 4. Dan Deacon (Coniston Lane): Dan Deacon makes fun music, but his live show practically defines…
My votes for the Triple J Hottest 100 2012 (in a rough order – better songs at the bottom) Tyler Touché – Baguette? Japandroids – The House That Heaven Built (not in my personal top 10, but I’d love to see these guys do well) Lisa Mitchell – Bless This Mess The Vaccines – No…
Like Lisa Mitchell, this is a song that I didn’t expect to like as much as I do. It’s a dance-pop song without a great deal of originality or depth to it, anchored with a silly vocal sample. But it’s just a really fun song, and unlike most dance-pop songs that seem to be entirely…
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