The Neighbourhood - Sweater Weather

These guys are fantastic:

2012 in review

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog.

Here's an excerpt:

600 people reached the top of Mt. Everest in 2012. This blog got about 12,000 views in 2012. If every person who reached the top of Mt. Everest viewed this blog, it would have taken 20 years to get that many views.

Click here to see the complete report.

Since it is the season to be jolly...here is an antidote...cheers,kristopher

Ruby Ann Patterson

Ruby Ann Patterson reminds somewhat me of a young Tori Amos, her beautiful voice swept by emotion - soft and vulnerable, and yet strong, self-aware.

From her website (http://www.rubyannpatterson.co.uk):

"Ruby Ann Patterson is a precocious Manchester-based singer songwriter dealing in reflective wisdom infused with natural optimism and unselfconscious emotion. Hers is a voice defying description. Powerfully soft; gentle yet fervent, driving delicate melodies with an intensity and complexity belying her youth. Ruby Ann's soulful vocals are matched by her haunting talents on piano and guitar."

Listen to more on Ruby Ann's Soundcloud:

https://soundcloud.com/rubby-ann-patterson

Dropkick Murphys - The Season's Upon Us

It's Boxing day here - so we're still Christmassing honestly. This video from Dropkick Murphys' shiney, new & soon-to-be-released (Jan 8 2013) album should give you some idea of what ... what Christmas is like where I'm from. Merry Christmas! :)

Antonia Vai - The Smallest Song In The World

Short, but sweet ;)

Ben Howard Live @ Amoeba

At least 12, oh at least 15+ people at this record store event (ok probably one or two more :) ) - and I just watched the whole concert so I figured I'd share it. I'm totally grokking the girl at 33:45, singing along with Ben & realising that... she's probably been singing along to the entire set ;)

Hornsman Coyote & Jah Mason - Belly of the Beast

This song is really summing up a lot for me right now - from the various global crises to my current festively Christmas mood.

Hornsman Coyote is 'a reggae trombonist and singer, hailing from Serbia'. Epic headgear, a fine trombone solo, brofists and Reggae win the day. Enjoy :)

James Apollo - Ho ho, ho hum

A new, blue Christmas classic to enjoy as we slip into the festive season :)

Fossil Collective - Let it Go

A sweet, animated video :)

Vietnam - Kitchen Kongas

So yes it has been a helluva long time since I posted...well anything. Really it comes down to me not saying anything unless I really feel I have something to share. Well I certainly got one to share with you today. Vietnam released the new single off their upcoming album this week and I am hooked. I haven't been able to stop listening to it, because, it certainly gives me a sense of nostalgia from back when I was a young fella smoking joints kicking back and grooving out to great music. This is totally one of those tunes I would have had going on back then. So as a result it has quickly become one of my faves of 2012. Pretty amazing to me considering how late in the year this one entered the game. Anyhow give it a listen and I hope you enjoy it as much as I.

Citizens! - True Romance

I cannot stop listening to this song on repeat :) True Romance is a track from Citizens!' October 2012 album, Here We Are. This debut album was produced by Franz Ferdinand's Alex Kapranos  and is seasoned with a bit of 80s synth pop and 90s Brit pop. So here they are with a little tasty treat for your ears :)

Kennef Riggles

I rediscovered Esthero a few weeks ago and am in love with her style... it only took 14 years lol

Esthero - Heaven Sent

Obsequious Robonaught

I bumped into Obs and he pointed out these two songs:

Dan Mangan - Road Regrets

Cinematic Orchestra feat. Patrick Watson - "To Build a Home"

(Text from the video) Astrophysicist Dr. Neil DeGrasse Tyson was asked by a reader of TIME magazine, "What is the most astounding fact you can share with us about the Universe?" This is his answer.

Fields of the Nephilim

Imagine Snake Pliskin (from Escape from LA/Ney York) having read (and underlined) the stuff about angels in all the books left out the Bible, strange stuff from Sumeria co-mingled with H.P. Lovecraft's Old Gods.

Now picture all that taking the form of a rock band - with smoke, lights, trenchcoats, black hats - and you'll get moments something like those in the videos below, which are from Fields of the Nephilim's 2008 live shows in London - released in 2012.

Best band ever.

Fields of the Nephilim - Wail Of Sumer / And There Will Your Heart Be Also

Fields of the Nephilim - Psychonaut

Stereophonics - In a Moment

Posting this song on behalf of Leona:

Stereophonics - In A Moment

You think you've got it all
The writing is on the wall
You're praying to your Lord
Searching for your soul
Cause you just need to know
The emptiness will go
In a moment

The Head and the Heart

The Head and the Heart - Rivers and Roads

Been talking bout the way things change
and my family lives in a different state
and if you don't know what to make of this
then we will not relate

Rivers and roads (x2)
rivers 'til i reach you



The Head and the Heart - Down In The Valley

One more for the stars and the eyes of the walls
I saw your face, I heard you callin' out

I saw your face in the crowd and you came out
Just like the sun and the moon and the stars at night

There was a sign on the door and it reads to me
Just like the sun and the moon and the stars at night