CLUAS Irish Indie Music The Soap Box

Polaris Music Prize shortlist

aidan — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 18:11:19 GMT

The shortlist for the Polaris prize, Canada's equivalent of the Mercury, Choice, etc, has just been announced. It's always a list that's worth checking out - they've been making fine music in Canada for the last few years.

Anyway, here's this year's shortlist: I only know Malajube, Metric and Patrick Watson - anyone have any tips on the others?

Elliott Brood, 'Mountain Meadows'
Fucked Up, 'The Chemistry of Common Life'
Great Lake Swimmers, 'Lost Channels'
Hey Rosetta!, 'Into Your Lungs (and around in your heart and on through your blood)'
K'naan, 'Troubadour'
Malajube, 'Labyrinthes'
Metric, 'Fantasies'
Joel Plaskett, 'Three'
Chad VanGaalen, 'Soft Airplane'
Patrick Watson, 'Wooden Arms'

Full details available on www.polarismusicprize.ca. The winner will be announced in September.

Michael Jackson RIP

jan — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 08:05:38 GMT

Glastonbury 2009

PeterQuaife — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 01:55:00 GMT

Anyone on the board make the journey over? As per usual I watched courtesy of the TV vowing that I'll be there next year! Neil Young and Bruce Springteen put on what looked amazing shows, the energy of the Boss in particular was truly phenomenal, the steam rising off him mid 'River' Blur went down a treat also, Doves 'Pounding' and '10:03'sounded awesome Lisa Hannigan was her usual gorgeous self. Tom Jones was acting the randy old man etc etc Spinal Tap being Spinal Tap, excellent Bar having to look at Zane Lowe's over sized double-cranium, my only (beggers cant be choosers now) real criticism is Jo Whiley . She has never ever had anything remotely interesting to say and is only interested in the latest hair fad, and music she championed from the comfort of the studio's leather chair, courtesy of the tax payer...come on now, time to put her out to pasture PQ

U2 360 Tour

aidan — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:40:23 GMT

You have to admit: it looks impressive. And even this version of this song sounds much better than the album version:

DJ software - assistance required!

PeterQuaife — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 21:39:51 GMT

Have been roped into DJing @ a couple of friends weddings this summer. Does anyone know of any handy laptop software to connect into the mixer / amp that queues the tunes, plays via itunes? Anything really that is a:decent b: idiot proof cheers

2009, an average year for music?

stephen — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 22:53:18 GMT

Is it just me or has this been a very average year for music so far?

I really haven't heard a really special album this year. Even Wilco's latest seems distinctly underwhelming (though is that a surprise after their last effort?). Maybe the Doves have stood up but I still prefer The Last Broadcast to the latest.

Probably the Super Furry Animals' new one is the best of a bad bunch. Though I am looking forward to the new White Denim and The Low Anthem.

Who in their right mind......

PeterQuaife — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 02:10:32 GMT

would pay €70 to see Fat Boy Slim @ Marley Pk? sweet jesus. Even during this downturn, greed is still rife. Please debit my account €70...... PQ

Noel Gallagher: Peacemaker?

Father Roneo Sensini — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:45:10 GMT

As a man who constantly sways between Blur and Oasis, i've got to say that if Stephen Ireland ends up back in an Ireland jersey as a result of his trip home to go to Slane, thats going to end it for me once and for all: Oasis

What do Stacey's Mom, Bullet with Butterfly Wings, and Mmmbop have in common...?

Father Roneo Sensini — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 04:04:03 GMT

Tinted Windows, thats what! The new hybrid supergroup comprising James Iha (ex-Smashing Pumpkins), Taylor Hanson of
Mmmbop fame, the bassist from Fountains of Wayne, and Cheap Trick's drummer.

I was going to review them for the album section but their self-titled LP has been out since the end of April so its well past its zeitgeist-date..

Despite Taylor Hanson's naff musical beginnings - luckily they don't transfer on this effort - it's not bad. It is unashamed power-chord-driven pop rock, to the extent they could be pigeonholed as a Thinking Man's Busted! This is probably unfair though, in patches it does lend itself more to Dinosaur Jr's 2007 album Beyond..

Check out the single Messing With My Head on YouTube... Dead Serious is another good album track too.

Health warning: this is college rock by a band with an average age of 42 - not everyone's rock music ideal. There is however some trademark James Iha guitar-squealing, albeit used more sparingly in the mix..

Am I the only one who thinks this album is half-decent?

Overcrowding at Slane

eoghan — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 21:17:39 GMT

Were any CLUAS regulars at Slane? Did you find it overcrowded as being reported in different new outlets? There is an article in the Irish Indo which says there is a meeting planned to examine overcrowding at Slane but '...there will be no fans representatives present...' Is there a Cluas regular who was at Slane who could go? If so drop a line ASAP to contact@mcd.ie

Philosophical question (inspired by Metallica tribute band)

John Doe — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 23:24:16 GMT

My loving girlfriend decided to treat me to a weekend away in Cork to celebrate my birthday. On Friday night we went to see Jinx Lennon - mad Dundalk guy who sings brilliant songs about the assorted nut jobs roaming the streets of Dundalk. Reminds me a lot of Mark E Smith.

On Saturday night we went to see, of all things, a Metallica tribute band. Surreal but hugely enjoyable. I'm pleased to be able to report that despite my advancing years, I can still mosh. Sad but true.

And now a question of philosophy. Trees falling unheard in forests etc. is all very well, but here's a riddle for the Cluas collective.

Metallica once recorded a cover of Whiskey in the Jar and frequently perform it live.

So here's the question.

If a Metallica tribute band play Whiskey in the Jar....are they covering Metallica or Thin Lizzy ?????? (I'm not forgetting that Whiskey in the Jar is a trad. arr. song and not a Lizzy original.)

Let's see you ponder that one, o wise denizens of Cluas.

Album release lag/creep

Binokular — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 04:10:03 GMT

Another "Is it just me..." thread. Is it it just me or is there something strange going on with album release schedules these days. Some albums spend so long on the interweb/blogosphere hype machine, you'd think they'd been released six months ago, yet when you go to buy it, you find it's not actually in the shops, by the time it comes out, you've almost lost interest. Thats what I call "Album Lag" Then other stuff just creeps up on you, like the new Sonic youth one, there first time you realise its coming out is when you spot it in the shops/online store. "Album Creep" Anyone else noticed this? What are record companies playing at? Especially the lag thing, surely if a records done, it's done, get the thing out the door? Yeah, I know, marketing and stuff, but seriously, if theres an album people want, get it out there while its still fresh?

Writers' number 1 albums that did not make top 50

eoghan — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 20:38:24 GMT

The following are the albums which, in our recent poll to find the top 50 Irish albums released in the last 10 years, were voted by only one writer but were voted by that writer as their no. 1 album of the last 10 years (by extension none of these albums made the top 50):

Ann Scott - Poor Horse
Damien Dempsey - To Hell or Barbados
Dark Room Notes - We Love You Dark Matter
Duke Special - Songs From The Deep Forest
Future Kings of Spain - Future Kings of Spain
Mic Christoper - Skylarkin'
Paul O'Reilly - First Thing In The Morning
Si Schroeder - Coping Mechanisms
Redneck Manifesto - Cut Off Your Heart From Your Head (aside: this was actually the no. 2 album voted for by the writer in question but his number one vote was for Tooth's "That Corporate Emotion" which is an EP and hence was ineligble)

The Top 50 irish albums of the last decade

eoghan — Sat, 23 May 2009 08:28:51 GMT

To mark the occasion of CLUAS.com's 10th birthday the CLUAS writers were polled to find the top 50 Irish albums of CLUAS.com's lifetime, i.e. from 1999 to 2009. A total of 35 writers voted in this poll, each of them voting for an average of 8 albums. Below, listed in alphabetical order, are the 50 albums that secured the most votes, and every single album below was voted for by at least 2 writers. Which album was the overall winner? Well you'll just have to check back on 30 May 2009 when the full ranked list of these albums is published!

66e 'Fall Down 7 Times, Stand Up 8'
Alphastates 'Made from Sand'
Ash 'Free All Angels'
Bell X1 'Music in Mouth'
Cathal Coughlan 'Black River Falls'
Cathal Coughlan 'The Sky's Awful Blue'
Cathy Davey Tales of Silversleeve'
Damien Dempsey Seize the Day'
Damien Rice 'O'
David Holmes 'Bow Down to the Exit Sign'
David Holmes The Holy Pictures'
David Kitt 'The Big Romance'
David Kitt 'Small Moments'
The Divine Comedy 'Regeneration'
The Divine Comedy 'Victory For The Comic Muse'
Dry County 'Unexpected Falls'
Fight Like Apes The Mystery of the Golden Medallion'
Fionn Regan The End of History'
The Frames 'Dance The Devil'
The Frames 'For The Birds'
Frank and Walters 'A Renewed Interest in Happiness'
Gemma Hayes 'Night on my Side'
God Is An Astronaut 'All Is Violent, All Is Bright'
Ham Sandwich 'Carry the Meek'
Headgear 'Flight Cases'
The Immediate 'In towers and clouds'
Jape 'Ritual'
JJ72 'I To Sky'
JJ72 'JJ72'
Joe Chester 'A Murder Of Crows'
Lisa Hannigan 'Sea Sew'
Mumblin ' Deaf Ro 'The Herring And The Brine ' (2006)
Republic of Loose 'Aaagh'
Roisin Murphy 'Overpowered'
Simple Kid 'SK1'
Simple Kid 'SK2'
Snow Patrol 'When It's All Over We Still Have to Clear Up'
Snow Patrol 'Final Straw'
So Cow 'These Truly Are End Times'
Ten Speed Racer '10 SR'
The Thrills 'So Much For The City'
The Tycho Brahe 'This Is The Tycho Brahe'
The Tychonaut 'Love Life'
The Walls 'New Dawn Breaking'
Turn 'Forward'
U2 'All that u cant leave behind'
U2 'How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb'
The Urges 'Psych Ward'
Waiting Room 'Catering For Headphones'
Wilt 'Bastinado'

Is the list on the money or well wide of the mark? Any major omissions? Let us know what you think right here.

We need Irish music in Costa Rica

RichardBlank — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 07:04:41 GMT

After reading a few threads,I wanted to introduce myself to this community and look forward to sharing ideas with other forum members.

Besides the 80s music and Latino flavor, Costa Ricans would really enjoy some real cultural music with a kick. In Arizona, I used to go to many Irish pubs and really enjoyed the music and atmosphere. An Irish bar here would make a killing.

Best regards,

Richard

CLUAS on the Radio

Idiot Kid — Wed, 27 May 2009 17:01:53 GMT

Well done Eoghan on Dave Fanning last night, thought you came across very professional and sold the site brilliantly. If you do decide to bring CLUAS articles out in a book form I can get you in touch with an agent! ;-)

Is it today you're on Phantom Daily?

One quick question about last night though. Isn't it worrying that Dave Fanning devoted 30 minutes to wedding etiquette and 10 minutes to a discussion about music?

Jay Bennet RIP

eoghan — Sun, 24 May 2009 19:38:22 GMT

I just learnt that Jay Bennet formerly of Wilco just died. He was only 45. I remember seeing him play with Wilco in the Olympia in 1999 (or was it 1998?) and at the very end of a what was an extraodinary gig Jay threw his guitar into the audience. The house lights come up and a shocked roadie comes out pleading for the guitar to be handed back! May he rest in peace.

Mundy Wears Eyeliner

Iambeave — Sun, 17 May 2009 20:37:18 GMT

The recent cover of Hot Press shows Laura Izibor (looking lovely) and Mundy....looking very much like a clockwork orange character gone wrong. What happened to teddy-bear faced Mundy? Why is he wearing eyeliner? Whhyyyyyy????

Did Hot Press put him up to it?

Final Fantasy

Archie — Fri, 22 May 2009 02:13:52 GMT

Final Fantasy in Whelan's on the 29th is sold out!

Anybody know where one might find some tickets?

THE RAW SESSIONS START TONIGHT!!!!

DeadFlowerRecs — Tue, 12 May 2009 03:25:26 GMT

TUNE IN!!!

The Raw Sessions will air tonight for the first time on RTE2 at the earlier time slot of 11.25pm

first episode will include Sweet Jane & R.S.A.G

For More information see the below websites......

http://www.rte.ie/tv/therawsessions/

http://www.therawsessions.ie/

TO VIEW A PRESS PROMO OF THE SHOW GO TO THIS LINK : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Er0NymdvMR4