Koonyum Sun

Xavier Rudd's new album "KoonyumSun" was released on the 23rd of this month and over the past 2 days or so i have been listening to it.

Like all of Xavier Rudd's albums the lyrics are full of aboriginal rights, protecting the environment, fair rights to everyone and basically nice stuff being a nice guy he is.

Unlike all of his other albums he has joined up with the group Izintaba a South African group i believe consisting of a bass player and percussionist. This brings a whole new level and direction with the digideroo mixing with the African drums and backing vocals. The bass player really drives the band through most of the songs which also makes it sound awesome.

Overall another one of his amazing albums like they all are, with a great message and i would recommend a listen by everyone, if it is just at least once, to see the amazing talent that is brought up in our backyard and how only a few men can stand up for whats right and get a huge following.

Cant Wait for the tour to get back to Perth after the US!!!!!!

Not Many Words can describe Annie Lennox's voice even after her Eurythmics days so here she is enjoy...

Queens of the Led Fighters....

Them Crooked Vultures.

A newly formed band similar to chicken foot where all members have come from different bands.
As you could probably work out from the title where the members are from, if not

Joshua Homme-Guitarist/Singer (Formally of the Queens Of The Stone Age)
John Paul Jones-Bass (Formally of LED ZEPPELIN)
Dave Grohl - Drums (Formally of Nirvana, Foo Fighters)

So their self titled debut album came out late last year and so far has been very popular with the people who are fans of the Foo's, Led or QOTSA.

What's my opinion I hear you ask?

My answer is pretty simple, THEY ROCK

If you are a fan of any of the bands mentioned above i recommend you check out their website that has some exclusive details, videos etc that you would expect to find on a website.


http://www.themcrookedvultures.com/us/home


Here is them performing the song "Gunman"



Oh I nearly forgot, guess whos going to see them live on the 19th of January.


MEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!

ROCK & ROLL PEEEEEPS!!!!!

Guys Cant Multi-Task Eh?

Well you obviously haven't seen Xavier Rudd.
Geoff hes the guy i was talking about during Moore River who is usually at Blue & Roots but not this year.

Here he is doing his magic

You Know What I Mean, This Electric Stream

Well back to Expanding Your Octaves and as you all know, probably one of my favourite music genres would have to be dance/techno etc.
Now this band in this video is called Underworld and if you remember back a few weeks when that chick came in to talk to us about going on like an exchange student course she talked about the huge music concert and one of the bands/dj's were playing were Underworld.
Underworld a British band have been around for a very long time making music from the early 80's and still going strong today.

This following clip of them performing one of their songs called "Cowgirl" which is awesome as well as this song will probably stay in my mind until my mind turns to mush.

Another song i really like of theirs is "Born Slippery"

Enjoy And get your dance shoes on

Really Catchy Song

Just came across this awesome song as it was single of the week and downloaded it because it was free

This chilled song has a guitar and bass line that is really catchy to me. Now you probably wont like this as its not rock but more bordering on pop but i really like it

hope you enjoy it

Getting In Touch With The Red Neck Within Me

Well in this part of Expanding your octaves with James Hastings, we are going down south, where people like to sit on their porch with a shotgun, like to pick cotton and incest is not frowned upon.

Yes thats right bluegrass.

Now i've been listening to quite a bit of bluegrass lately especially Hayseed Dixie that plays some really cool covers of songs. I know this genre of music isn't for everyone and can come really annoying but while listening to one of their albums i came across something miguel and conrad will enjoy. They do a bluegrass cover of I Believe in A Thing Called Love.

I find it very cool and quite funny

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AocdvOAEeFM

Psychedelic Stoner Doom Metal?

Now one if not my weirdest album and artist selection for this segment.

The relatively new band called OM who are classed as "Stoner Doom Metal", "Psychedelic Rock" and "Experimental Rock".

Now personally since i dont know all these genres i would class them my self as Heavy Metal crossed with Trance music.

Now i know that this will not be for everyones taste as it is so unusual but after a while you sort of zone out and become somewhat hypnotized by this music. Because of this sort of trance that it puts you into i found that it is really good for doing homework or studying as there isn't many lyrics and its a pretty solid rhythm, as well as the songs going for a while each.

There most famous live show was in Jerusalem in 2007 where their show went for around 5 hours in length as well as their album "Pilgrimage" being voted by mojo the best underground album of the year in the same year.

Now i would not recommend this for everyone but for those people with an open mind and people who would like this type of music i'm making a guess here and Miguel would be one that may like this although its not that heavy nor fast but is like i said like dance music that has a solid rhythm going for it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lG_QOmjP4VU

Enjoy or just hate it immensely but i like it as i can fall asleep to it.

Traveling Back In Time

Tonight we are traveling back in time back to the 70's where the world was first introduced to people who generally rebelled against the authorities; The Punks.

And what was the main driving force behind this movement; Music

And one of the major bands fueling this movements; The Sex Pistols

Arguably one of the most influential groups in history of music in the way people acted and how they made the world form the 70's to the one we live in today.

Never Mind The Bollocks-Heres the Sex Pistols is probably one of the greatest punk records ever made, not necessarily because of the music but its message from it that really said to rebel against the police and government and the Queen.

With songs such as Bodies which is about abortion, Anarchy in the UK which really explains itself as well as a dig at their old record companies in EMI.

But their most famous song throughout the UK was God Save The Queen which is amazing because it was banned in the UK for the way they described the queen.

One of their most famous acts was to play God Save the Queen down the Thames river and coincidently it was the queens jubilee celebration which ended them being arrested along with their young record company boss Richard Branson.

The sex Pistols managed to become very famous even though you could not buy their albums in stores because they were banned and people ended buying them out of Richies Boot.

So its a must to listen to the Sex Pistols even if you dont like punk music but just to listen to the music that changed the world because without the first punk rockers we wouldn't have the people we have today.

Speaking of Thumping Bass

With The Prodigy coming again next year and myself not going to be able to go unless i get a fake ID (Wink) i have decided to go on a drum and bass/dance/techno music way for a while on

Expanding Your Octaves With James Hastings

My First recommendation is from the band that probably is a huge creator of the type of dance music we have today and the ones that Conrad happily dances down to and that is the weird pairing called Daft Punk

These pioneers of dance music have made their names throughout the world by their unusual dress on stage often wearing complete space suits while mixing on stage.

Their latest album Alive is a live album which is very good to listen to although one of the requirements when listening to it is you have to have your bass so loud that your desk or car vibrates when the bass and synths kick in.

Heres a link of just the audio of the opening tracks from their album, there are video ones but the quality isn't that great so here you go

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJ4368jkF9o

I Wish I Practiced A Bit More

Expanding Your Octaves With James Hastings has returned once again to share with you music that i listen to that you may not be familiar with or dont know about.

This editions is a very well known artist that all of you should have heard some of his songs through out your life.

Ben Harper is a solo artist who has a very laid back approach to life and music and that i conveyed through his music as it comes under a very bluesy and easy listening music style.

His most famous songs probably include "steal my kisses", "Diamonds on the inside" and "Burn one down".

His album "Live from Mars" is a great live album to anyone who just wants to sit down and relax while listening to music.

Another reason i do like Ben Harper as he plays lap steel guitar very well and if only i practiced a billion times more although that still wouldn't happen because 0 x 1,000,000 is still 0. I would love to play lap steel like it.

heres on of his songs that has awesome lap steel in it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O--1kilzvxY

Also my dad said if i got really good he would buy me one of these lap steel guitars, lucky for him i wont get to that standard. This is probably a good video to watch if your unfamiliar to this instrument

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0_hnGLR-jY

Wishing cant do any damage can it

Album You Need To Here Before To Die

Well after a long break between segments heres the latest section of expanding your octaves with James Hastings. How Exciting.

This following album is said to be one of the greatest albums of all time and one that everyone should listen to at least once in your life.

Well for all you music types which is all of you who read this i'll give you a few clues to who this album is by.

Well first of all it is by one if not the greatest band by many peoples standards that ever lived and played music.

Know Yet, I assume not.

This band was and still is extremely popular but touring is impossible as some band members have departed and leaving the other members still playing music and meeting people that can leave you completely stumped. And you can just end up following train tracks listening to your own voice.

Some people who realise who the band is by now. If not heres some more.

When the band toured worldwide they bought with them a mysterious fever that affected everyone especially the woman. This fever was so common where ever they went it was named after the band.

You Must Have It By Now. If Not Shame on You.

This Album has no actual name and is usually called by the colour of the cover that it is keep inside.

For all who dont know it, i hope you go gently weep in the corner. There you go final clue.

It is of course...

The Beatles White Album

It is a must listen to even if you dont like the beatles as this is a lot different than their usual stuff and is a lot less lovey dovey.

Because the album doesn't have a name as such it can be quite hard to find as it is either known on websites as unknown or just the white album.

Hopefully most people got that before i told you if you didn't i'm very disappointed in you, especially you Jano if you didn't know it.

As for the answers for the clues i'll explain them,

The Beatles = Awesome

People that leave you stumped= Paul McCartney's late wife that had a missing leg or foot

Following the train tracks= Ringo Star's job as a voice in Thomas Tank Engine

Beatle Fever

While My Guitar Gently Weeps

Please give the album a listen as its awesome, specially the opening song.

Also i would like to know when you figured out who i was talking about?

Cake is Yum

Cake is Yum, yes indeed

But I'm referring to the American band "Cake"

Cake has been around since we were just tiny babies or even before that when you were just little... well since i just had dinner i will let you finish that sentence.

I would be quite surprised if the fact that any of you haven't heard of them as they are quite famous with their unusual music style of somewhat alternative rock combined with Jazz.

If I'm completely honest (no offense to brass playing person) i can often find brass somewhat annoying and somewhat screechy, but in the cake albums i have fallen somewhat in love with the Trumpet with its simplicity but moves the song into the 3rd dimension.

Another reason i really like Cake are they way their songs sound so simple but when you listen there are really tricky guitar rifts (sounds tricky, i wouldn't know a clue) that really power the songs along.

But i must say one of the best reasons i like this band apart from the great songs like Daria, I Will Survive (Great cover) & Wheels. Is the fact that most of the band sound out of time when in fact they are not, its really just a Mind F*%$.

Heres the link for my favourite of their songs at the moment Wheels, although the song is good, the music video leaves a lot to be desired

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2kCYYjTGFo

Off For Now

Laterz

High Expectations

After being kept awake until the unknown early hours of Sunday morning by Noisy Mc No Sleep Brandon (Thanks a lot)

After waking up from my comatose to wake up and see Brandon in my house (Not a pretty sight... LOL i'm joking brandon it was a pleasure watching Jesus TV at the early hours of the morning)

Well after Brandon left me at around 11.30ish or so i dont really know i was still pretty much still a sleep i went to see if i got any emails or something like that i noticed a newly purchased CD on the desk called "Artwork" by The Used

Not sure if anyone has heard of it but yeh.

So as you do while your computer is turning on i start to read the cover etc stickers you know just trying to wake your brain up in the morning or afternoon i couldn't tell.

Now these are quotes from the cover:

"10 out of 10...Possibly the best album you will hear this year" Outburn Magazine

"The used have delivered not only the defintive album of their career, but one of the best records your'll hear in 2009" AP Magazine

Now with these where quite high statements so i was like piss off this is going to be crap but when i listened to it, it wasn't that bad, not the best album of 2009 but ok

Its sorta your guys/girls type of music dont know who to compare it to but i'll put it on my phone and i'll play it tomorrow and you guys might like it.

I dont know why my dad bought it though; not his type of music, nor mine infact but as brandon would know its would come in the class of my angry music

Cheers

J.E.H OUT

Uncovered

Welcome to the next edition of Expanding Your Octaves With James Hastings

As you have probably noticed all of the albums i have commented on so far are covers and i'm continuing on in that theme for the last week.

You all would have heard of Ministry of Sound that is a very popular brand now that started out as a small nightclub in london city.

They are mostly famous for their "resident" DJ's who release numerous CD's per year.

This CD "Uncovered: A Unique Collection Of Cool Covers"

features these usual Dj's but also some famous faces as well covering all well known songs.

We see these famous songs with some very strange and cool versions

Some of the most famous songs include (Name of song- Artist covering that song) I would tell you who the original artist was but CBF going up to the studio to get the case, but i will tell you if i know it off the top of my head

Riders On The Storm- Yonderboi (The Doors)

Use Somebody-Pixie Lott (Kings of Leon)

Rebel Rebel - Seu Jorge (David Bowie)

Bettie Davis Eyes

Ms Jackson-The Vines (Outkast) Better than Original

Toxic- Yael (Britney Spears) Better than Original

Call Me (Blondie)

Live & Let Die- Duffy (Paul Mccartney)

Seven Nation Army (White Stripes)

Magnificent Romeo-Basement Jacks (The Clash)

Blue Monday-Flunk (New Order)

Ghost train (The Prodigy) AWESOME

Horse With No Name- A Human (America) Very Good

Plus Much more

Absolutely stunning arrangement of songs

And my personal Favourite To Cut a Long story Short - Cazals

Because of the awesome rift and awesome drums later in the song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcUPBz0GNq8

Check It Out

Jazz & 70's

Welcome to the next edition of Expanding Your Octaves With James Hastings

Now i'm going on the route of different and unusal music and to follow up on the bossa nova genre the same record label have put together, jazz versions of hit songs in the 70's.

Some of them are awesome such as Smoke on the water, Stairway to Heaven and have you have seen the rain.

My personal favourite is Stairway to heaven and hopefully this link works but if it doesn't dont bother me

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAY8xb5WUto

Keep reading for the next installment

Some Freaky Music That You Will Know But Not Like This

Just trawling through my music library and in the playlist we did for in between our sets at the Fly By Night i discovered some really weird shit.

We purposely chose all covers but i found a group of CD's from in the city as a complication from all different artists of their greatest hits. But all a little different because they are all done in the genre of Bossa Nova. For those people who dont know what bossa nova is, its the little relaxing music they play in the background of really flash restaurants or like lounge music. And if you dont know what that sounds like, you need to get out more people.

Well listening to these CD's i really enjoyed them as you know all the songs but you need to take a second "glance" because if you didn't look for it, you would completely miss it.

The CD's range from Bob Marley, Rolling Stones, Ramones (My Favourite) and i think the Guns and Roses one has just come out recently.

And some i might start reviewing albums i find by mistake in my music collection that are unusual or you haven't heard of before or are just totally Awesome

And this segment may be called

Expanding Your Octaves With James Hastings

Making better names is going on the list of to dos in my life from now on