Let there be Rock...

great new video from the DBTs. As with the Band of Horses record, i wasn't sure about The Big To Do for a while, but resistance is futile i've realised, it's a great rock record. And they'll be here in London in November. There is, as ever, lots of cool stuff on their website, particularly the webisodes.

And the other two albums?

Here's to Taking it Easy by Phosphorescent, more on which to come...

and Infinite Arms by Band of Horses

just as the Black Keys album was, much of the latter of these two was recorded at the legendary Muscle Shoals studio. It's got a mixed reception so far and, to be fair, i thought it sounded a bit bland on first listen, but it's been growing on me steadily. It might not reach the heights of Everything all the Time, but Laredo and Older, in particular, are superb songs.

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It was pay day recently so I took myself down to a record shop a couple of days ago. There were two albums being released that I was after and there was a third that I’d resolved not to buy. The third was Brothers by The Black Keys. I’d decided not to buy it as I thought I had enough Black Keys records in my collection already, and to save some money. While looking for the other two though, I heard, playing very loudly through the shops sounds system, something that sounded very good and very much like The Black Keys (if you’ve not heard them before, they’ve a distinctive sound). I listened to three songs (tracks two to four on the new album it transpired) and knew pretty much instantly that I was, of course, going to buy it after all. To help seal the deal, the cover artwork is about the best I’ve seen in a long time. So what’s my point? Well, what conspired to make me buy the album? Firstly walking to a real shop, secondly that they were playing that very album, loudly and through a good sound system and because they liked it, and thirdly that the physical object itself was cool as hell (honestly, take a look...)



At a time when there’s much talk about the death of the high street and the redundancy of CDs themselves, all of these things made me feel, for a while at least, better about the world.

And the album? It sounds pretty much like all their other records – it’s fantastic.

testing...

well, with those royalties drying up, i'm thinking of getting back in the saddle... so, coming soon, check here for further random musical thoughts and musings... (and thanks to a few people who've been in touch in the interim to say they actually read this blog and wouldn't mind a return)

Adios, So Long, Farewell...

It's been an emotional 18 months, but, with royalties rolling in from both sides of the Atlantic, i'm thinking it might be time to kick back, get fat, and retire this Hang the DJ blog (althoug you may find me occassionally writing things here, The Thought Fox)
But, for here and now, i thought i'd sign off with some stuff to celebrate. Here's my 'Ten reasons not to be down' list...

1. The new Josh Rouse album, El Turista.

2. Nurse Jackie
roll on series 2 i say, genius

3. Nick Kent's comeback
The brilliant Apathy for the Devil is out next week, but don't just take my word for it, checkout this Sunday Times review.

4. Adventureland on DVD

Finally saw this on saturday night, superb, and a great soundtrack too (The Replacements, The Cure, Lou Reed, Big Star etc.)

5. Richmond Fontaine live in London
Bush Hall show for March 4th, already sold out, see you there if you've a ticket.

6. Pearl Jam live in London
Hyde Park in June, thanks to my bro in law, i'll be there.

7. Shutter Island
Scorsese does Dennis Lehane's most bonkers book, can't wait.

8. Fionn Regan's back
Loving his second album, Shadow of the Empire, check it out.

9. The Way Home pbk

George Pelecanos is on top form, again, in this 'crime' novel which is really more of a brilliant exploration of a father-son relationship. Bizarrely, this is set to appear on Amanda Ross' ill-conceived new Book Club show on channel z. Still, it should be interesting to see what Gok, Mr Spikey and her off Strictly make of it...

10. And finally, The Big To Do,
New Drive-By Truckers album out in March, there's info and a free download at their website now - let there be Rock!

Lean on Pete, live

Great event at the Roundhouse in Camden last night, Willy read from his just published third novel and played four songs (including 'Laramie, Wyoming' - the song in which Charley the protagonist of Lean on Pete first appeared - and 'The Water Wars') and then chatted with the extremely gracious and generous Mark Billingham. A great night, a full room and he sold and signed all the copies of the book there, nice work!
You can buy Lean on Pete here, or even better go see him on the road, all tour dates are in my earlier post or at the band's website, Richmond Fontaine

Royal Festival Hawley

great gig on saturday night, he prefaced this gorgeous song (maybe the standout one on his new album Truelove's Gutter) with the following:
'I wrote this for my wife in the hope that I’d get a shag off her . . . I sat down and played it to her, and it was the most beautiful version I’ve ever played.'
[Asked by one member of the audience what happened next:]
'She said, ‘What’s for tea?’.'

LEAN ON PETE

Here are those dates, come along...

Feb 9 - Willy solo music and reading @ Roundhouse-London
Feb 10 - Willy solo music and reading @ Cardiff Arts Institute-Cardiff, Wales
Feb 11 - Willy solo music and reading @ The Victoria-Birmingham
Feb 12 - Willy solo music and reading @ Captains Rest-Glasgow



And all of this prefigures the return of Richmond Fontaine, for a full UK and European tour, which will include some special book promotional duties in Ireland. Full details at the Richmond Fontaine website.

LEAN ON PETE by Willy Vlautin

here's a great promo video for Willy Vlautin's brilliant third novel, out early Feb. Willy will be here in the UK for a short promotional reading/acoustic tour on publication, ahead of the full band's tour in March. Details of all that to follow next week.

2010...

Three albums to watch out for:

Laura Veirs' July Flame, sees her return to the excellent Bella Union label and features the helping hands and voice of Jim James no less. Out at the end of this month it's already got some fantastic reviews.

February 22nd sees the return of Josh Rouse, with El Turista. His last album was, 'Sweetie' aside, a bit of a disappointment i thought, but i spent the weekend listening again to Home and Under Cold Blue Stars and i can't wait for this.

And finally, March sees Laura Marling's second album, I Speak Because I Can. I was a huge fan of her debut and am looking forward to seeing how this one turns out.

Willie Mitchell

sad to hear of the passing of Al Green producer and Hi Records founder Willie Mitchell on January 5th. Here's some classic Soul Train footage of Al in memory...

Happy Xmas etc.

so i'll finish '09 with one of my favourite tunes of the year. Everyone says that The Gaslight Anthem sound like Bruce (good) or the Killers (very bad) but for me this particular song sounds like The Replacements, and frankly you don't get much better than that. See you in '10.

Fight...

Here's the first of ace young writer Richard Milward's music pieces for the Guardian, which by the looks of it are going to be well worth following. It also reminded me of a few years ago, when my better half did the publicity for Richard's first novel, Apples, and to say thanks he got her a goodie bag that consisted of a miniature bottle of bubbles, a ten pack of Marlboro Lights, a packet of crisps and a chocolate bar!

It's snowing...

i walked home through the swirling snow late last night (after our xmas party) listening to this. It was totally lovely.



(and watching Vashti Bunyan here reminded me of the recent passing of, the genius, Robert Kirby. RIP.)

A Christmas Story

if you're looking for a xmas book to buy, then look no further, Auggie Wren's Christmas Story by Paul Auster has just come out with lovely illustrations by ISOL. There's a great extract/sample online at the Guardian.

And, as you may remember, this was the same story that featured at the end of the Auster/Wayne Wang movie, Smoke, memorably soundtracked by Tom Waits' glorious 'Innocent When You Dream'

Lost Magazine

have run Peter Patnaik's excellent pre-war female murder ballads list from the pages of Hang the DJ, check it out here, Lost Magazine, it's a nice site.

Some more thoughts on AA Bondy

- I wasn't sure that When the Devil's Loose was quite as good as his debut American Hearts, but now i think it might be

- My friend saw him play last week in Toronto and said he was great, and that he and the whole audience, pretty much, got drunk together

- I really wish i went to see him and The Felice Bros in Shepherd's Bush in November

- I might have to track down the Verbena records (his old band, who supposedly recorded their last album with Dave Grohl producing)

- The track 'On the Moon' off the new record sounds very like Josh Rouse's 'The Whole Night Through' and is equally gorgeous

(Don't) Keep it Hid

i've never quite got into The Black Keys, but you have to check out frontman Dan Auerbach's solo record, a warm mix of blues, folk, soul and Creedence-style rock. I only got it at the w'end - thanks Graeme! - so it didn't make my 10 for 09 list, but it would have. Here's not one but two tracks. Now go buy it.

Pictures of You

I love this song, and have recently been followed around by it. First it popped up in monday night's One Tree Hill and then there it was this morning in the pages of my current novel Nick's Trip by George Pelecanos.

10 for '09

Lots of records I thought might, haven’t made this list (Richard Hawley, The Gaslight Anthem, Steve Earle, Monsters of Folk, Dylan, The Lemonheads, Drive-by Truckers, Iron & Wine, The XX, Wilco, Lisa Hannigan), so although the industry’s f***ed, by all accounts, it’s been a good year for music in my book…

1. Richmond Fontaine - We Used to think the Freeway Sounded Like a River
They just get better, and the songs here sounded phenomenal live, at the Garage in September (best record sleeve of the year too).

2. The Duke & The King - Nothing Gold Can Stay
Brilliant debut, sounds like a '70s country-soul classic, but with lyrics about growing up in the 80s. Also very good live.

3. Mariachi El Bronx
Hardcore white LA punks do straight mariachi album, shouldn't work but does, discovery of the year (although worst record sleeve of this list, by a long way). Turn it up!

4. The Low Anthem - Oh my God, Charlie Darwin
Came late to this, warily, but it's fantastic and a real grower, a superb one-sitting-listen kind of album.

5. Vetiver - Tight Knit
You need to play this loud on a good stereo to get it's full effect - gorgeous songs, fantastic band, still haven't seen them live.

6. AA Bondy - When the Devil's Loose
Maybe not quite as great as his debut, but still a brilliant winter record. Again, one to listen to in a single sitting, probably late at night

7. Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit
Rock and soul, recorded at FAME studios no less, and a step-up from his first post-DBT record.

8. The Felice Brothers - Yonder is the ClockStrangest of their albums yet, moodier and more diverse than the previous two, but still with its barnstorming moments. missed them live in October sadly (with support from AA Bondy).

9. M. Ward - Hold TimeAlways great - has the cover of the year on it, his version of 'Rave On', and some nice duets with Zooey Deschanel (sigh) and Lucinda Williams.

10. Backspacer - Pearl Jam
First album i've bought of theirs since Vitalogy – won’t claim it’s a classic, but it’s really pretty good and it sent me back to those first three albums.