10 years ago this week, on 23rd April, well-loved indie band Arctic Monkeys released their second album, Favourite Worst Nightmare in the UK. After the first album, Whatever People Say I am, That's What I'm Not, it could have been questioned whether the band's second album would match the success of it's predecessor. Considering Whatever... became the fastest selling debut album ever and won multiple awards, including the 2007 BRIT Award MasterCard Album of the year, and the 2006 Mercury Music Prize, Favourite Worst Nightmare had a lot to live up to.
However, fans were not disappointed. The thing about Favourite Worst Nightmare that makes it an amazing album, and personally my favourite, is each track is as different as the last. In addition, it is clear that Alex Turner has developed his songwriting craft more. Gone were the days of singing about a typical night out in Sheffield, as described in Whatever... Here, we get as varied subjects as love, as described in the beautiful yet melancholic Only Ones Who Know, to heartbreak, in songs like Do Me a Favour, to a random encounter with a weird fan in Brianstorm (Yep...really...if you don't believe me look up the inspiration for Brianstorm). Oh...and no album would be complete without a power ballad, which in this case is my personal favourite, 505.
But how did the album fare compared to its predecessor? Well...it did very well actually. It went straight to number 1 in the UK album charts and was nominated for the 2007 Mercury Music Prize (Unfortunately, it lost out to the Klaxons' Myths of the Near Future). However, Favourite Worst Nightmare more than made up for this loss, as it earned the Arctic Monkeys their second win for MasterCard album of the year at the 2008 Brit Awards, and it was also nominated for the best album at the 2008 NME awards, losing out to...yep, you guessed it...the Klaxons. However, singles, Teddy Picker and Fluorescent Adolescent did win best video and best track respectively. It is also certified 3x platinum.
So...fast forward 10 years later. Is it still considered a classic? Well, in my opinion, it should be considered a classic, as it is a stunning album from start to finish. And the Arctic Monkeys themselves? Well, there are some rumours that they are currently all set to record new material. However, as Alex Turner once said, "Don't believe the hype,"so until the band themselves actually confirm something, it is best just to wait patiently.
Anyway...Happy Birthday Favourite Worst Nightmare!
Em
x
Saturday, 22 April 2017
Wednesday, 19 April 2017
Festivals are coming!
Hi everyone!
It seems like yesterday when, in 2016, to distract us from all the terrible goings on in the world (even before we had those Presidential election results), our beloved festivals were releasing their line ups. Now, we have the full line ups for Radio 1's Big Weekend, V Festival, Reading and Leeds and, of course, Glastonbury. Note that there is no T in the Park this year, due to Ospreys being on the site, as they are a protected bird species whose habitat would be disturbed if the festival went ahead.
So...what do I think of this year's line ups? Well, as you will see...it is mixed.
V Festival: 18th (if you include the Friday dance night)- 20th August.
Ok, so V Festival is more of a family friendly festival so fair enough that it is mainly a pop festival, with little variety. The headliners this year are Pink, who I hear is amazing live, and Jay-Z, and joining them include the likes of Ellie Goulding, James Arthur, Clean Bandit, Sean Paul, Craig David, Rudimental, as well as many others. What is interesting is that Clean Bandit are on the line up along with their collaborators, Jess Glynne and Sean Paul and Anne-Marie. Could they be performing together on Rather Be and Rock a Bye respectively?
However, for those of you who are less into your pop music, there are other acts out there. For those who are into grime, you have Stormzy. For those who like to reminisce with classic songs, you have Busted, Madness and Craig David. Finally, for those who like your dance music, you have Friday night to party with the likes of Annie Mac and Duke Dumont, as well as during the Saturday and Sunday, with Pete Tong and his Ibiza classics, and Sigma.
Overall, the V Festival line up this year is great for those who would want variety and/or looking for a small festival to try, before they go to any of the other festivals.
Radio 1's Big Weekend- 27th-28th May
Last year's line up was really good, as it had something for everyone, whether you were into indie music, pop music, hard core rock or grime. This year is ok. However, I have issues with it. I'm not saying the line up is terrible but it seems to be last year's line up but with a few alterations. Music artists who were there last year, and also this year include Biffy Clyro, Bastille, Stormzy and Blossoms (who to be fair have gone from the BBC Introducing Stage to the newly named Where it Begins stage). However, there are other artists who are going to get the crowds going, in the form of Rag 'n' Bone Man, fresh from his double Brit award win, Emeli Sande and Kings of Leon. There are also some big names who are set for huge comebacks on the bill, including Lana Del Ray, Kasabian and Haim.
Overall, similar to V Festival, the line up has something for everyone. The only thing is tickets have sold out but you will be able to live stream the performances on the Radio 1 website.
Reading and Leeds- 25th 27th August
I like to think that Reading and Leeds is the rock and hip-hop version of Glastonbury. This year's headliners are Kasabian, who are set to release their new album, For Crying Out Loud, on April 28th, Muse, who, if you saw my previous post, could be releasing new music, and...err...Eminem.
Despite the presence of Eminem and Wiley, Reading and Leeds still maintains its reputation as a rock/indie festival, with established acts, such as Two Door Cinema Club, Bastille, Blossoms and The Pretty Reckless, as well as newer bands, such as The Hunna and Cabbage. There is also the Radio 1 dance stage for those who prefer dance music rather than Rock music. This stage will feature the likes of Fatboy Slim, Charli XCX and Becky Hill, as well as the spoof hip-hop group, Kurupt FM, who recently provided the official Comic Relief single with Ed Sheeran.
If you're looking for a festival full of rock and roll, hip-hop beats and a place to let loose and dance then this is the festival for you. If not...then it is probably best to avoid it. It has not been confirmed yet but it is likely that the performances will be available to stream on the BBC Reading and Leeds website. Highlights are also likely to be shown on BBC 4.
Glastonbury- 21st- 25th June
Yep...I have saved the best 'til last. We had a few ideas about who would be at the most famous festival ever (apart from Coachella), due to artists confirming themselves, such as London Grammar, Nile Rodgers, with Chic, and Kris Kristofferson. But first, the speculation was focused on those all important headliners.
I have to be honest, apart from Radiohead, the headliners were kind of obvious. After months and months of speculation, the Foo Fighters and Ed Sheeran were finally revealed to be the headliners, with the Foo Fighters receiving the warmest reception, due to the band cancelling in 2015 because Dave Grohl broke his leg. Ed Sheeran...not so much. Don't knock it until you've tried it people! I have heard great things about Ed Sheeran performing live and, after seeing a few bits of his concert documentary, Jumpers for Goalposts, I reckon he is more than capable of performing in front of a massive crowd.
But what about the rest of the line up? Well, it is really varied. Glastonbury has every act that would like. If you're into grime, you've got Stormzy, Dizzy Rascal and Kano. For those into rock, you have the likes of Royal Blood, Biffy Clyro, Kaiser Chiefs and, of course, Foo Fighters. Don't worry pop music fans...there is something for you too! To cater for those who love to bop to pop, we have Katy Perry, Lorde and Clean Bandit. Plus, there is always other types of entertainment that people can explore.
Overall, Glastonbury is always known to be a spectacular event, and whether you like the line up or not, there is always something happening. Unfortunately, like every year, Glastonbury tickets went like gold dust. However, like always, Glastonbury will be live streaming most of its live performances on the BBC Glastonbury website, and on the BBC Red Button.
Here's to a great summer of festivals!
Em
x
It seems like yesterday when, in 2016, to distract us from all the terrible goings on in the world (even before we had those Presidential election results), our beloved festivals were releasing their line ups. Now, we have the full line ups for Radio 1's Big Weekend, V Festival, Reading and Leeds and, of course, Glastonbury. Note that there is no T in the Park this year, due to Ospreys being on the site, as they are a protected bird species whose habitat would be disturbed if the festival went ahead.
So...what do I think of this year's line ups? Well, as you will see...it is mixed.
V Festival: 18th (if you include the Friday dance night)- 20th August.
Ok, so V Festival is more of a family friendly festival so fair enough that it is mainly a pop festival, with little variety. The headliners this year are Pink, who I hear is amazing live, and Jay-Z, and joining them include the likes of Ellie Goulding, James Arthur, Clean Bandit, Sean Paul, Craig David, Rudimental, as well as many others. What is interesting is that Clean Bandit are on the line up along with their collaborators, Jess Glynne and Sean Paul and Anne-Marie. Could they be performing together on Rather Be and Rock a Bye respectively?
However, for those of you who are less into your pop music, there are other acts out there. For those who are into grime, you have Stormzy. For those who like to reminisce with classic songs, you have Busted, Madness and Craig David. Finally, for those who like your dance music, you have Friday night to party with the likes of Annie Mac and Duke Dumont, as well as during the Saturday and Sunday, with Pete Tong and his Ibiza classics, and Sigma.
Overall, the V Festival line up this year is great for those who would want variety and/or looking for a small festival to try, before they go to any of the other festivals.
Radio 1's Big Weekend- 27th-28th May
Last year's line up was really good, as it had something for everyone, whether you were into indie music, pop music, hard core rock or grime. This year is ok. However, I have issues with it. I'm not saying the line up is terrible but it seems to be last year's line up but with a few alterations. Music artists who were there last year, and also this year include Biffy Clyro, Bastille, Stormzy and Blossoms (who to be fair have gone from the BBC Introducing Stage to the newly named Where it Begins stage). However, there are other artists who are going to get the crowds going, in the form of Rag 'n' Bone Man, fresh from his double Brit award win, Emeli Sande and Kings of Leon. There are also some big names who are set for huge comebacks on the bill, including Lana Del Ray, Kasabian and Haim.
Overall, similar to V Festival, the line up has something for everyone. The only thing is tickets have sold out but you will be able to live stream the performances on the Radio 1 website.
Reading and Leeds- 25th 27th August
I like to think that Reading and Leeds is the rock and hip-hop version of Glastonbury. This year's headliners are Kasabian, who are set to release their new album, For Crying Out Loud, on April 28th, Muse, who, if you saw my previous post, could be releasing new music, and...err...Eminem.
Despite the presence of Eminem and Wiley, Reading and Leeds still maintains its reputation as a rock/indie festival, with established acts, such as Two Door Cinema Club, Bastille, Blossoms and The Pretty Reckless, as well as newer bands, such as The Hunna and Cabbage. There is also the Radio 1 dance stage for those who prefer dance music rather than Rock music. This stage will feature the likes of Fatboy Slim, Charli XCX and Becky Hill, as well as the spoof hip-hop group, Kurupt FM, who recently provided the official Comic Relief single with Ed Sheeran.
If you're looking for a festival full of rock and roll, hip-hop beats and a place to let loose and dance then this is the festival for you. If not...then it is probably best to avoid it. It has not been confirmed yet but it is likely that the performances will be available to stream on the BBC Reading and Leeds website. Highlights are also likely to be shown on BBC 4.
Glastonbury- 21st- 25th June
Yep...I have saved the best 'til last. We had a few ideas about who would be at the most famous festival ever (apart from Coachella), due to artists confirming themselves, such as London Grammar, Nile Rodgers, with Chic, and Kris Kristofferson. But first, the speculation was focused on those all important headliners.
I have to be honest, apart from Radiohead, the headliners were kind of obvious. After months and months of speculation, the Foo Fighters and Ed Sheeran were finally revealed to be the headliners, with the Foo Fighters receiving the warmest reception, due to the band cancelling in 2015 because Dave Grohl broke his leg. Ed Sheeran...not so much. Don't knock it until you've tried it people! I have heard great things about Ed Sheeran performing live and, after seeing a few bits of his concert documentary, Jumpers for Goalposts, I reckon he is more than capable of performing in front of a massive crowd.
But what about the rest of the line up? Well, it is really varied. Glastonbury has every act that would like. If you're into grime, you've got Stormzy, Dizzy Rascal and Kano. For those into rock, you have the likes of Royal Blood, Biffy Clyro, Kaiser Chiefs and, of course, Foo Fighters. Don't worry pop music fans...there is something for you too! To cater for those who love to bop to pop, we have Katy Perry, Lorde and Clean Bandit. Plus, there is always other types of entertainment that people can explore.
Overall, Glastonbury is always known to be a spectacular event, and whether you like the line up or not, there is always something happening. Unfortunately, like every year, Glastonbury tickets went like gold dust. However, like always, Glastonbury will be live streaming most of its live performances on the BBC Glastonbury website, and on the BBC Red Button.
Here's to a great summer of festivals!
Em
x
Sunday, 9 April 2017
Time for the Re-Uprising of Muse
After an amazing 2015/2016, due to the release of their album Drones, a sold out tour and a Glastonbury headline slot, it seems that the last couple of festival slots could signal the end of Muse's Drones album promotion.
However, footage has been released on Matt Bellamy's Instagram (which was reposted by the Muse Instagram page) of Bellamy playing a very futuristic sounding song on his guitar. Notably, the caption which accompanied the footage was "Back In the Studio. New song coming soon." There has also been photos posted of Dom Howard recording drums, complete with similar captions. So...could these pictures signal the "Uprising" (sorry!) of new Muse material?
The last sign that Muse were releasing new songs was the weird video of the band performing a song called New Kind of Kick, as part of a Muse Halloween special. However, apart from this, the band had been quietly completing their Drones tour. Yet, with news of headline slots at Reading and Leeds, Lollapalooza and Firefly, among others, it seems that there may be more than meets the eye when it comes to Muse's antics. Will we hear new songs during these dates? Chances are that they will!
But the question is what about after these dates? What is next in store for the band? Well, according to their official website, they are on tour until September 2017. So, it could be possible that we may not hear much from Muse but then again, judging from these social media posts, we could be hearing new music from them sooner than we think. And what about those amazing shows that Muse put on for fans, that can feature anything from Drones to satellite dishes? Well, according to reports emerging last year, the band want to take a step further by incorporating floating magnets to their shows. There are also rumours that the band may go on a smaller tour, playing acoustic songs, based on a Twitter Q and A by Matt Bellamy last year.
Overall, whether they go on a smaller acoustic tour or unleash a ton of magnets into the crowd, Muse fans will not be disappointed if, and when they go on tour. And as for that new album? Well, patience is a virtue, but judging by the sneak peeks, we could be in for a treat.
I'll keep you posted everyone!
Em
x
However, footage has been released on Matt Bellamy's Instagram (which was reposted by the Muse Instagram page) of Bellamy playing a very futuristic sounding song on his guitar. Notably, the caption which accompanied the footage was "Back In the Studio. New song coming soon." There has also been photos posted of Dom Howard recording drums, complete with similar captions. So...could these pictures signal the "Uprising" (sorry!) of new Muse material?
The last sign that Muse were releasing new songs was the weird video of the band performing a song called New Kind of Kick, as part of a Muse Halloween special. However, apart from this, the band had been quietly completing their Drones tour. Yet, with news of headline slots at Reading and Leeds, Lollapalooza and Firefly, among others, it seems that there may be more than meets the eye when it comes to Muse's antics. Will we hear new songs during these dates? Chances are that they will!
But the question is what about after these dates? What is next in store for the band? Well, according to their official website, they are on tour until September 2017. So, it could be possible that we may not hear much from Muse but then again, judging from these social media posts, we could be hearing new music from them sooner than we think. And what about those amazing shows that Muse put on for fans, that can feature anything from Drones to satellite dishes? Well, according to reports emerging last year, the band want to take a step further by incorporating floating magnets to their shows. There are also rumours that the band may go on a smaller tour, playing acoustic songs, based on a Twitter Q and A by Matt Bellamy last year.
Overall, whether they go on a smaller acoustic tour or unleash a ton of magnets into the crowd, Muse fans will not be disappointed if, and when they go on tour. And as for that new album? Well, patience is a virtue, but judging by the sneak peeks, we could be in for a treat.
I'll keep you posted everyone!
Em
x
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Radio 1's Big Weekend 2022
Hello! so, big news everyone...I went to my first proper big festival and what better festival to go to than one which is hosted by Radio 1:...
