Our Lips Are Sealed

I suppose all of you made the same experience: You listen to a song you know for ages and afterwards you can't clear your mind from it. This happened to me the recent days listening to Fun Boy Three again. I always had a fondness to them probably because the were formed by the broken pieces of The Specials. Terry Hall's voice fitted to their songs like none other. He wrote this song together with Jane Wiedlin from The Go-Gos. Still a standard in the early 80s new wave sound. I think I should feature this band in a separate post.

Fun Boy Three - Our Lips Are Sealed
The Go-Gos - Our Lips Are Sealed

Bad Blood

There's a new band from Vienna, Austria that attracted my attention these days. The Crispies released the first song from their upcoming LP a few days ago. When ever I thought that the new Austrian  sound is only based on electronic or singer/songwriter I have to say I am wrong. Here is a band by four former school-mates that celebrates truly Rock and Roll in stamping it at the late 70s New York punk. It is a loud and snotty sound with sharp guitars and real Bad Blood in it. Not too bad for a young band.

Enjoy.

The Roundabout

The news arrived that one of my favourite folk-rock guitar player is going to release a new record out in August. It's the first release and a little masterpiece in this genre. Fantastic acoustic guitar on a steady groove. It makes me looking forward to this record.

Congrats To France

Sadly Germany is out of the tournament now. But everyone who watched this semi final between Germany and France was a witness of probably the best game so far. In this first half both teams played the most offensive football so far. Anyway, France was after all the better one because Germany wasn't able to make a goal by chances galore. Hope France will beat Portugal and sent Ronaldo home on Sunday.

Billy Bragg and Ted Hawkins - Cold and bitter tears (live)

New Wave - Who is afraid of the 80's? Pt 2

As said the last time there were a lot of songs on this compilation that introduced me to a lot of music and sound I didn't heard before. And most of the songs made me curious to more songs of the artists. One of them was The Ruts. I bought their first full album after listening to Babylon's Burning and they didn't disappointed me with their record. It is still a record that was played regular in my house. One of those records that would take me to grave.

The Ruts - Babylon's Burning

999 were a band formed in London in the late 70's but not really punk. They made a crossover between rhythm and blues and pub rock with a very sharp guitar. I don't owe any full album but I always loved their singles. Truly great songs with hooks that still works after decades.

999 - Homicide

Life Begins At The Hop was the first single by a band that had great success in the early 80's. XTC was named as an art-rock band with New Wave roots. I bought their first album Drums And Wires that still is an essential record of the early 80's. Should grab it out of my collection and listen again to songs like Making Plans For Nigel.

XTC - Life Begins At The Hop

Fragile

A few days ago I was in the train on the way to my office with earphones on listening to music and reading a novel. Then a a song appeared and I stopped reading. It was Fragile by Sun Kil Moon from their latest record released a few month ago. I seldom listened to intimate lyrics like that. Mark Kozelek tells us about losing a close friend on leukemia and how they enjoyed listening to Chris Squire and listening to Yes. A very sad story and I remember to those who died very too early during the last decades. May they rest in peace.

Sun Kil Moon - Fragile

Are We Ready

Two Doors Cinema Club is one of those bands that found their place between indie-rock and synthie-pop. Definitely not the next big thing as promoted during the last years but mostly mostly worth to listen for a few minutes. This song is an appetizer from their next record. A  mixture of post-punk guitars, sugary synths and a children choir. Music for a ride in an open car.