Tonight's category: Uk bands beginning with 'The'.

Two Doors Down
The Mystery Jets

Sure, the beginning of this song sounds a little like a TV ad for breakfast cereal, but it by the time the first verse is over and the sax crimes begin, it's a nifty little song. If this was a cereal however, it would be masquerading as a family friendly healthy treat, but in reality it's way too sugary sweet to be good for you.

Shut Up And Let Me Go
The Ting Tings

If this song was a cereal, it would be a) The apparent next big thing according to the advertisers, and b) something that all the hip indie kids would have for breakfast. I'm kind of thinking that means 'nothing', but for argument's sake lets say coco pops. With fruitloops, just to make it different. And yogurt.

No Social
The Shortwave Set

To me, this song wouldn't be a cereal. But if it had to be some kind of breakfast meal, it would probably be like taking all the left overs in the fridge and turning them into some kind of crazy big breakfast hybrid that somehow contains equal parts indian, pasta, german smallgoods, pre-made salad, champagne and birthday cake. Naturally, this is a good thing.

Triumphant return of the music blog?: Songs I've been listening to lately.

Expectations
By Cut Off Your Hands

I'm willing to put it out there that Cut Off Your Hands are the best band coming out of New Zealand at the moment... That Australia hasn't claimed as their own, at least. They've been playing for a while now, but are yet to release an album (I think, it could be out soon) but they have released 2 EP's, the first of which; Shaky Hands, was released in 2006. I'd heard of them previously but never grabbed their name before a week or two ago.

Regardless... I'm glad there are still bands out there keeping the rock dream alive. If I can just put on my musical clarevoyant sparkely turban.... I see big things in their future.

The Bomb
By New Young Pony Club

Continuing with the 'Songs-that-came-out-some-time-ago-but-I-missed-the-name' theme, this song came out sometime last year. It's another strong showing for Electro-Funk-Dance, proudly proving that not all of the genre has to be made in New York.
Deceptively, these guys are from England, but are actually signed to the same Australian label as Wolfmother and The Presets.

Lucio Starts Fires
By Joe Lean And The Jing Jang Jong

Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong went massive sometime last year, pumping out this song and an equally impressive EP. But then, tragedy! Well nothing that melodramatic, but they kind of fell off the radar. There's rumors that they are still just tweaking thier debut album, but theres also rumors they just broke up. Theres even a rumor that they were kidnapped by an American advertising company and force to compose jingles while being tied up in a dungeon.. But I wouldn't put too much faith in that rumor as I just made it up.

Regardless of actual criminal acts commited, I personally think its criminal that a song this catchy never got an album.

Special Bonus Track!
You And I
By Cut Off Your Hands

Now the New Zealand never has to end! As long as you only listen to it for 2:14. OR alternatively just set it to loop... FOR EVER....

Ye olde punk rock.

I'm Stranded
By The Saints

Brisbane's very own The Saints are technically the fathers of modern punk. They formed before the Sex Pistols, and around the same time as the Ramones. I like this song for its simplicity, and for a while there it was like an anthem everytime we'd go out to the alternative clubs (well this, and 'Paint it black' by the Rolling Stones).

Lust For Life
By Iggy Pop

If The Saints are fathers of modern punk, Iggy Pop is the Grandfather. He's been around making music since the 60's, starting of playing avant-garde rock that would later become known as proto-punk. He's still kicking around today (and is like a ball of muscle :S) which just goes to show that sometimes taking a retarded load of drugs wont always kill you.

Warrior In Woolworths
By X-ray Spex

X-ray Spex never made it as big as the other punk bands, even though they started around the same time. But regardless, they bring a bit to the table. For a start, I think they were the first punk band with a female singer, paving the way for PJ Harvey and Karen O from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Secondly, about a quarter of the way into the song, BAM, sax crime. It's a classy act.

International Indy Rock and Roll (Now with 300% more keyboard)

Fearless
By The Bravery

I first heard this song on the trailer for the awesome Russian vampire movie Nightwatch. It's a rocking little song that I originally thought was about sitting around pretending to be tough, but generally being clumsy (hence probably why I connected with it...) but really, I'm pretty sure its about nothing at all.

But still, you can't beat the cockiness of a line like: "And I know that's why you love me, Chicka"...

Letter From An Occupant
By The New Pornographers

I've had the pleasure of seeing Canada's foremost super group play live before and its pretty damn cool... They are made up of seven musicians from popular bands (in Canada I guess... I don't really know any of the bands they are from:S) and one independent film-maker. It makes for a crowded stage, but it also mean some rather large and full sounds. Its kind of like the opposite of the Arcade Fire, also Canadian, and I'd like to see them battle each other to the death in some kind of musical/gladiatorial combat.

Either that, or join together to form an even larger and more ridiculous stage band. And then save the world from aliens and SARS.

Sorry About The Noise
By The Jessica Fletchers

Despite their easily recognizable pop culture reference name, I don't really know that much about this Norwegian band... Except that I thought they were a small American indy band that never mand it too big. But in actual reality they released 4 albums and are pretty well known in Norway.

It just goes to show that Eurovision is not a good indication of music is actually like in Europe.

Swedish garage punk rock Wednesday: Breaking out in The Hives.

Main Offender
By The Hives

Once again I'm a little lost as to what to write... Much to my dismay I've never seen these guys live so I don't have any 'possibly fictional' tales of rock and roll hi-jinks this time around. However, The Hives are one of my favorite bands, and damn good at what they do (which is rock out, co-incidentally), so it seems a waste not to feature some of their songs.

This one is off of their first major album 'Your new favorite band'. Pay special attention to the lyrics, because I'm pretty sure they make no sense at all.

Missing Link
By The Hives

Missing link is off the second tour de force of an album (and my favorite), Tyrannosaurus Hives. It was hard picking just one song from this album, but that's why I'm here... making the tough decisions. Also for listening pleasure please consider 'Dead quote Olympics', 'B is for Brutus' and 'Two timing touch and broken bones' from the same album. Actually, just make that the entire album, just to be safe.

The reason I'm so dismayed that I haven't seen The Hives live yet is because apparently they do one of the greatest rock shows of all time. Rolling stone rated it as 8th best ever or something. Apparently this is due to the lead singer, 'Howling' Pelle Almqvist, engaging in what he has dubbed "Colorful idiocy". Such a display can be seen below, in quote form (I got this from Wikipedia, so it's gotta be true):

Pelle: "I'm out of control! Tell me to take it easy!"
Crowd: "Take it easy!"
Pelle: "No, I wooon't!"

I think that pretty much sums it up.

Bigger Hole To Fill
By Delta Goodr- I mean The Hives

This one's from their latest album, "The Black and White album", which is a reference to the band's need to have a different uniform every time they go on tour, but always only in black and white. This album's also pretty rad, but I don't like it as much because they felt the need to mess with the timing in some songs. It's not in this one, put for others they are there rocking out and then suddenly BAM... songs at half speed for some reason. It throws out my dance steps.

Anyway, every time I hear this song I think of this first person shooter I'm going to make one day. One of the characters will be an assassin who kind of looks like Andy Warhol and dresses like a French punk. At some point in the game, his henchmen (dressed similarly, but also wearing mime makeup) manage to jump you and capture you. When you come to, you are tied to a chair and assassin Andy does a song and dance to this song, with choreographed mime dance moves.

I don't really have any little stories for these songs... but I'm gonna play them anyway.

A Perfect Sonnet
By Bright Eyes

It's a shame Conor Oberst is pretty much the definition of emo, because he writes some incredibly beautiful stuff. This is some of that stuff.

Eleanor Put Your Boots Back On
By Franz Ferdinand

Who would have thought that a bunch of art pop lads could write a song like this. It also reminds me of The Warriors because of its references to Coney Island.

Little Wing
By Jimi Hendrix

I've already mentioned that Jimi Hendrix is Black Guitar Jesus. Enough said really.

Songs I totally forgot about, but then one day remembered randomly, and made a note about it on my phone...

Arms Around Me (Live)
By Jens Lekman

Also known as the Avocado song.

Jens Lekman is an unbelievable lyricist. There are so many clever lines in this song... so much so that I'm willing to forgive that the only instrument is a ukulele and it's in terrible quality (I can't help it.. its a super hard song to find). He has released a proper album version of this one, but he's made ridiculous changes to the lyrics, cutting so much good stuff and filling it is with pop psychology nonsense, that its almost a crime. Also, the album version sounds like a gay rainbow.

I can't remember the exact circumstances that led to me remembering this song and then writing it down. I might have been looking at avocados...

My Heart Is On Fire
By The Dirty Secrets

Also known as the band I mistook for Franz Ferdinand.

Unlike Franz though, these guys are from Perth. I know I'd heard these guys on the radio a bunch but just generally forgot to keep an ear out for the band name. I think I was at some housewarming party and it came on in the background, so I quickly jotted down the chorus (it's pretty easy to remember) and the rest is history.

Coincidentally, while checking that these guys were actually from Perth, I found out I just missed a show by them and another cool Sydney band called Sparkadia (more on them later, probably), as they played at the troubadour on Tuesday night. I really have to pay more attention to these things.

Go For Blue
By Pepe Deluxe

The scene: some Chinese restaurant in the valley.

The time: dinner before Drew's band played one time.

The reason: I've no idea. I just got the "All the colours all the colours all the colours..." bit stuck in my head. I didn't mind though, its a cool little song. Also, blue is my favourite colour, so naturally I'd go for it. So it's come full circle, the colour wheel is complete.

I kinda wish it didn't have the evangelist breakdown section in the centre though... It's like a musical blitzkrieg for all of it, except the part where it stops to take a breath and issue life advice.