Ok, as a relatively new music fan, I have not had a lot of experience of truly outstanding bands blowing me away. But now, thanks to NME and likesounds.com, my taste in music has completely changed and drastically widened from my favourite band of two years ago (fall out boy – no laughing please) to my many favourite bands of today. I think the best of these bands need talking about, so I’ve listed my five favourite for you here so enjoy!

The Maccabees – This quintet have been around for ages, but I only really listened to them about two months ago. They write genuinely uplifting, catchy indie songs that are capable of turning that frown upside down!
Best Track – Lego [mp3] [myspace] [Colour It In - amazon.co.uk]

Foals – These oxford dropouts have been making waves on the indie scene in 2008 and have played almost every major festival this year. They make danceable indie songs that are perfect for relaxing to after a crap day at school/work/life in general.
Best Track – Cassius [mp3] [myspace] [Antidotes - amazon.co.uk]

You Me At Six – These pop punker’s have been around for a while and are still going strong, and have recently released their debut full length LP – Take Off Your Colours – (available on slam dunk records) and are touring the country as we speak.
Best Track – The Rumour [myspace] [Take Off Your Clothes - amazon.co.uk]

Kate Nash – This very talented singer songwriter, with a very unique and confident style to her singing. Currently residing with Ryan Jarman of The Cribs (definitely not making the list) and luckily, Mr Jarman’s distinct lack of vocal ability has not rubbed off on his squeeze.
Best Track – Mariella [mp3] [myspace] [Made Of Bricks - amazon.co.uk]

The Gaslight Anthem – a very talented rock and roll/punk band from America, with influences ranging from Bruce Springsteen to 1980’s Punk. Probably the only band I have ever heard of that has received 9/10 in NME and 5/5 in Kerrang! Either they have a lot of money for journalists, or are they are very, very good. I believe it’s the latter as they really are very, very good.
Best Track – Great Expectations [mp3] [myspace] [The '59 Sound - amazon.co.uk]

If you have any opinions, or bands you think should be on this list, please leave me a comment. See You Soon!

A compilation of the drummers’ favourite ever tracks varying from rock n roll to hip hop, it also includes a spoken word piece from Arctic Monkeys band mate Al turner and Matt’s own cover of the club hit ‘Dreamer’.

Helders was Dj-ing long before he picked up his drumsticks and has recently been performing at Ibiza rocks and Field Day whilst also creating remixes for artists Roots Manuva, Duran Duran & We Are Scientists.

You can buy a really cool limited 7″ vinyl of the single ‘Dreamer’ with Alex Turner’s spoken word story ‘A Choice Of Three’ on the flip side for £4.99 inc P&P from Late Night Tales. You can also buy the full series of cd’s from amazon.co.uk.

Read it all..

Tonight you can hear Producer Jacob presenting what would have been my last show for More Than Just Radio. Jacob’s prepared a cracking show for you tonight from 7pm @ www.mtjr.co.uk.

Jacob would like you to send him song requests, send them to requests-via@likesounds.com.

Over in the US, the Copyright Board Of America decided that the amount publishers and writers get from each download is to stay at 9cents. The board discussed raising the royalties rate to 15c per download, a move that forced Apple to state they would scrap their market leading iTunes store if it stopped making a profit. iTunes serves 85% of the market making it doubtful that any increase to their 99c rate would damage their business.

London Record Store To Remain Open
Meanwhile, my favourite CD shop in the west end has been sold. Sister Ray went into administration back in July but has now been rescued by an unnamed independent individual who has “music retail experience”. The W1 premises will apparently stay put and all staff will keep their jobs. The new owner has a lot to do to keep this business floating amid strong competition for the last remaining hard-copy music buyers.

Dirty Pretty Split

Dirty Pretty Things have announced their split, after completing their tour this month.

Read it all..

Wirral 3-piece The Rascals have cancelled the remaining dates on their UK tour. The cancellation follows a string of cancelled gigs culminating in yesterdays announcement that all further gigs are to be re-scheduled.

The brief statement reads:

We regret to announce that the remaining shows of the U.K tour have been cancelled. All of the shows are being rescheduled for December and we will announce the new dates on Monday. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause. We promise to more than make up for it in December! Thanks and see you soon, The Rascals

A bit of digging around revealed, via the support band Twisted Wheel, that singer/guitarist Miles Kane has laryngitis. I was due to see the band play at London’s Scala this month, but that particular gig is now set for December.

Miles Kane’s other band, The Last Shadow Puppets are supposed to kick off their tour on October11th in Wolverhampton, UK. These dates still stand which is a relief as I’m seeing them too, in London, on October 26th.

Listen to: The Rascals - People Watching
[audio:http://www.likesounds.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/the-rascals-people-watching.mp3]

I’m always eager to hear new material from bands be it covers or their own stuff.

This month I was lucky enough to come across one of each from one of my favourite bands Vampire Weekend, Fleetwood Mac cover ‘Everywhere’ & new track ‘Ottoman’.

Ottoman features the same line from latest single ‘Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa’ “Feels so unnatural, Peter Gabriel too” although this is rumoured to of been a line from Ottoman before CCKK…

Not being a big Fleetwood Mac fan myself I had nothing to compare this version to the original with; however whilst on a roadtrip to Portsmouth ‘Everywhere’ came onto the playlist, my friend (a BIG Fleetwood Mac fan) told me that Vampire Weekend’s cover definately did the song justice, so smiles all round!

Listen To:
Vampire Weekend - Everywhere (Fleetwood Mac Cover).mp3
Vampire Weekend - Ottoman.mp3

Vampire Weekend On: Myspace // last.fm

JLP

2 albums in one year and after not having much to say about their debut ‘Hold On Now, Youngster’ i wasn’t holding out much hope for their second release. However, it’s catchy, it’s full of energy, it’s witty and i really like it!The sound is easier on the ears and feels like they’ve taken their time on producing the final copy.

‘We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed’ shows definite progression from Los Campesinos! and if this is the way the band are heading then i’l definately be on the look out for future releases.

Los Campesinos! kick off their latest tour in Brighton on the 14th October hitting Liverpool, Leeds, Dublin, Glasgow, London, Bristol & Manchester along the way.If you weren’t a fan of ‘Hold On Now, Youngster’ then don’t let that be enough to put you off these guys, download ‘We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed’ from October 13th 2008.

Listen To:
Los Campesinos! - All Your Keyfabe Friends.mp3
Los Campesinos! - We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed.mp3

Los Campesinos! on:Myspace // last.fm

Pre-Order Los Campesinos! - We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed at Amazon for £9.99

JLP

If you are one of our many new visitors, chances are you don’t know about the likesounds.com love for Tunbridge Wells band Tom Williams & The Boat.

They are a band that in the year since they’ve formed have written and recorded 3 EP’s, the latest being Got Fuel, totalling 21 tracks. They’ve also played the biggest free festival, BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Maidstone. And, as if that’s not enough, they’ve recently recorded a session for Huw Stephens at the legendary Maida Vale Studio’s in London.

And despite singer/songwriter Tom’s impending University course the band are still finding the time to write and record even more new material. The band are working on a ‘concept record’ which will be ready early next year.

The band are back in the studio recording 24 and Concentrate have a listen to the demo’s below.

Tom Williams & The Boat - 24 (demo).mp3
Tom Williams & The Boat - Concentrate.mp3

And there’s tonnes more free stuff @ www.tomwilliamsandtheboat.co.uk and at myspace.com/williamstommusic

I found my self in the same room as a billionaire, and his daughter, this week. I felt like I ought to plead my case for debt relief- but then thought better of it.

The people I work for amaze me. To be able to give your daughter an apartment in Chelsea worth £10m, just like that, and to make a £25m profit on a house you’ve never lived in. Some amaze me for different reasons. An estate in London with property on their list totalling at least £2bn arguing over the cost of the most basic of things. I suppose spending money doesn’t make you rich.

Without music to soundtrack all this too I’d be lost. I’d probably worry about deadlines a whole lot more than I do currently and I’d probably meet them less than I do.

Everyone owns music that can completely change our mood. I have lots, here’s three:

The Rascals - People Watching.mp3 - [buy it]
The Maccabees - Lego.mp3 - [buy it]
Florence And The Machine - Postcards From Italy.mp3

… you see what I mean?

I’ve also taken a look at the figures for this month so far (visitors etc) and found that over 13,000 people have looked at likesounds.com since September 1st. Amazing. Thanks so much for reading this blog.

I’ve been living with this album now for a good week. I’ve got the download and the gorgeous 12” too, which I only get if an album really means a lot to me.

There is so, so much hype about this band, but what makes all that weird is the way it’s been manifested in the press. Basically in the form of pompous grandiose statements like ‘the best band, EVER’. The kind of statements you’d usually expect to be describing all out ballsy rock and roll groups like Led Zep, or to a lesser extent, oasis.

What we actually find underneath everyone else’s posturing however, is a band with massive production, a poet at the helm, and one of the best collection of songs we’ve had in a good while.

Read it all..