Lopez Blogs

Thank Christ it's Saturday. I'm going to have to get used to doing my weekly catch up post on a Fri/Sat instead of Sunday for the forseeable future as X Factor is back next Saturday and I will be busy doing my write ups of them for each Sunday (though I can't remember whether I blog the auditions or not, or just start at bootcamp stage? I will see how enthused I am!)... Other than that, it's only two weeks til my countryside retreat week and only 105 days til I go for a Christmas break in Disney World. Woohoo! Gotta keep those holiday goals in sight :) Right, what's been occurring this week?

The week that was...

• Reclusive Barclay Brothers ~ We Could Be Lonely Together: I am not exaggerating when I say that A LOT has been written about the business model of RBB this week. Basically, it's billed as they are paying you £27 to listen to their music. What really happens is you enter your email into their website and are entered into a draw (read more on it all here). I'd rather concentrate on the song though because I really like it :) It's essentially an enticing tune with a slightly punky attitude.It's built around a fuzzy glam-rock guitar sound with a vocal style over it that comes across as both a little aggressive and a little sweet. In this type of tune, the vocal has to carry the melody and it's definitely strong and distinctive enough to do that. It gels together with clever lyrics and enough hook to have that chorus swimming in your head for days. If Bowie were a woman he would have been proud to have released this tune. Oh and two things - 1) the guitarist is uncoventionally handsome and definitely worthy of the cosmic horn and 2) my email is thezapping@gmail.com. Just saying :P
• DeeDee ~ Balls: Not enough people are writing about the entirely charming, yet potty mouthed DeeDee. All this will change very shortly I should imagine. I became somewhat entranced with her brilliant tune Endure earlier in the year and it seems she is stepping up a gear as she readies the release of her first EP. Balls is a lyrical triumph that stands out in an overcrowded market of dear diary assertive female singers (see Lily Allen, Kate Nash, Eliza Doolittle et al). It's a devilishly vaudevillian slice of pop-cabaret with vicious putdown lyrics aimed at an errant lover. It's the clever structure of the song that makes it all flow together seamlessly - the verses finish mid sentence and it swiftly continues into a galloping chorus that is instantly a new generation's You Oughta Know. Only catchier. Let's not forget that sinfully delightful middle 8 - a rompy breakdown of "fuck you, you motherfucker/i wanna run you over with my truck-a/you're the reason I'm outta luck-a"... it deserves - no, demands to be sung loud and proud. A gem of a pop tune and surely the start of big big things for DeeDee...
• Elouise - Stardust Live: The ever so lovely, delicate Elouise has launched a brand new website in support of upcoming music and a live show on Sept 11th at the beautiful looking Tabernacle venue in London. The website is full of little treats like a cute video of Elouise in a rather lovely looking garden, some musical treats and of course some nice rehearsal footage of her practicing some new dance routines for the ace gang to master (hello Kris Manuel! :P) Things are only looking glittery and glam for Elouise right now, so if you aren't already a convert, be sure to spend time with her sound as she readies her debut album with the incomparable Mr Steve Anderson. Cannot wait. Oh, ace gang summit today to plan the trip to the concert :P
• Pretty Little Liars ~ yes it's all a bit Twin Peaks meets Veronica Mars via Gossip Girl, but naturally I have become obsessed with ABC Family (surely the new WB?) latest summer smash. And no it's not just because teacher Ezra Fitz is all sorts of apple bringing amazing :P It's just one of those so called Guilty Pleasures and the OTT cliffhanger has me both furious and curious :P Like all these teen shows, there's an element of great music in it (particularly the theme tune) which made me yearn for the days of The OC and Dawson's Creek. Then, via Pip at Entertainment Focus, I discovered a rather great compilation cd with loads of US tv show music in it. Called American Dreams, there is bound to be something amazing on there to remind you of the glory days of the WB. And it's £2 off if you quote "PLAYDREAMS" at Play.com. Bargainings!
• The Baseballs ~ Chasing Cars: I've been a smitten little kitten with The Baseballs for a while now and finally it seems like they are getting their due across Europe with their brand of rockabilly covers of current(ish) pop tunes. Their latest is a typically rollicking run through of Snow Patrol weepy Chasing Cars. It turns it from MOR rock ballad into something that would have propelled Cha Cha DeGrigorio (the best dancer at St Bernadettes - with the worst reputation...:P). The thing that really works about the Baseballs is they put so much energy into their performances, turn familiar tunes into something different and new and exude such charm that it's hard not to like them. Now how about some All The Lovers and Bad Romance on album two please?!