As you were.

You might recall that about 26 seconds ago, Van She released a single called “Strangers.” It is unbelievable, has been my choice for Song Of The Year and, since January, I’ve been raving about its goodness. Another song of theirs, “Changes,” I’ve also spoken highly of and has been my choice for 2nd favourite song of 2008. When I spoke to bassist Matt a few months back on my radio show, he told me “Changes” was the bands favourite track from the upcoming album, so it’s of no surprise that it’s the next single (cover art pictured.)  A single which goes to radio tomorrow.

Even though “Strangers” has barely been on shelves for a month.

!!!!!!

A little disappointing, yes, however there’s no release date as of yet for “Changes” and, in all honesty, it’s probably for the best. “Strangers” has not touched the ARIA top 40 chart since its release, and almost everyone I’ve spoken to who has gone out to source the CD single from a record store has told me they’ve been unable to find it without placing an order. I’m now putting all my faith into the album release come August, but would very much like it if “Changes” gives the boys the crossover success in the singles charts they deserve.

Anyways, onwards and upwards as they say. Here is the video clip for “Changes” which is a live video montage. Not my favourite variety of video clip, but this one has actually been put together in quite a cute manner. And of course, they’re still all very attractive innit?

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I think it’s really cute.

I don’t have a problem with Gabriella Cilmi.  A recent review of her album which I penned that appeared in Forte Magazine may have insinuated otherwise but, those who read it will be well aware the review was critiquing the music, and not questioning Cilmi’s abilities or talents as an artist, which I do not doubt whatsoever.  The review in question became quite the headache for myself and some of Cilmi’s people, and the last thing I want to do is ruffle any more feathers at Camp GC.

However…

I do not like first single “Sweet About Me.” I think it is an absolute pile of rubbish and its success astonishes me.  Her album, “Lessons To Be Learned,” has about 5 or 6 good songs on it.  The rest are extremely bland.  “Save The Lies,” the best song not only on the album, but also one of the best of the year, is about to see a release in the UK where, usually, people who buy records ‘get’ really, really good pop.  The clip for this is also quite enjoyable and, as Popjustice pointed out, not the absolute bore the clip for “Sweet About Me” was… (Though, in hindsight, the song was just as dull as the clip, so maybe it was actually brilliant?)

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Instant classic.  I bet you’re very excited to see this one race up the Aussie charts.

Well you’re going to have to wait a while.  Because whilst the UK are getting “Save The Lies” as the next single, we Aussie’s are getting a poor man’s version of Girls Aloud’s “Waiting,”  “Don’t Wanna Go To Bed Now” which, knowing what the Australian record buying public are like in comparison to my views, will probably be Number #1 for 86 years.

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Below average clip, okay song.  Meh.

Hurry up with the release of “Save The Lies” so I can actually contribute something positive to the Gabriella Cilmi project please Warner.

Congratulations to Dickhole KidMan on the arrival of her brand new bundle of joy; a pillow!

27 years. 18 albums. Over 8 Million CD sales. Sell-out World Tours. Leading roles in several movies (with a new one on the way) and a Television program. Her own record label. Celebrating her 48th birthday in a couple of months. Several links to Eurovision. An autobiography penciled in for the New Year. A career of accomplishments and talent often clouded by controversy, including her most controversial; marriage to a Serbian tennis player (she being of Bosnian Muslim background) during the height of the Yugoslav war.

Many people have referred to Ex-Yugoslavia’s Lepa Brena as the Balkans answer to Madonna. And whilst there is no denying this is the truth, Brena has been a pop star since 1981, with Madonna’s arrival onto the pop music scene erupting one year shy in 1982. As a child, I grew up with the songs of two female recording artists; Madonna and Lepa Brena. My family, of Bosnian background, were big fans of the Europopstar, and my infatuation with the women of song as years went by was all thanks to those two women, and the family members who played their music for me.

It has been eight years since Brena’s last album, 2000’s “Pomracenje Sunca” was released, and over these last few years there has been much speculation as to what the stars next move would be. It’s been such a huge disappointment to see such a gap in between releases from her of late; according to the singer her inspiration to sing is not as strong as it was when her country was unified, not torn by war. But, after working so hard for so many years, maybe she’s allowed to take such long breaks? Between 1982 and 1986, Brena released a full length album every year. In 1987, she managed to release two (!!) of them, and a feature film in which she played, surprise surprise, herself. The movie, called “Hajde Da Se Volimo” (translation: “Let’s Love”) centered around Brena being, well, Brena; a massive pop star, who spends the majority of the movie running away from kidnapping scenarios, sugared up by a very frequent burst into song. It was magical stuff, especially as a child. So magical, there have been follow ups to the film: Let’s Love 2 and 3, with Part 4 rumoured for release next year.

So after eight years, Lepa Brena’s newest record has finally dropped. “Udji Slobodno” is an emotional, powerful and dramatic effort dealing with the issues of love, life and loss; all from a woman better known for her light hearted pop songs about tight pants, discotheque’s, coca-cola and going to the cinema. I’m not kidding. Nonetheless, whether it be a ballad or a pop song about a chicken laying eggs (again, I’m not kidding,) the songs of Brena’s past are true classics, and the 10 tracks on “Udji Slobodno” sit quite comfortably with the brilliance of those. You can buy the album (with bonus poster!) from Yu4You.com here.

Here are my three favourite tracks (and the poppiest) from the new album; “Dobra Gresnica (Excellent Sinner)” “Kuca Lazi (House Of Lies)” and “Zasto (Why).” There’s even MORE Brena goodness if you scroll down past the album cover art…

DOBRA GRESNICA http://www.zshare.net/download/14860793e7b64d5d/

KUCA LAZI http://www.zshare.net/download/148612782a5c5d46/

ZASTO http://www.zshare.net/download/14861474d9f075fe/

Whilst it’s hard to narrow done which of her classics are truly the best, here is a small handful available in MP3 format for you. They each come highly recommended. Please note; some of them aren’t CD quality because they’ve either been ripped from the original vinyl or cassette.

MACE MOJE (1985) http://www.zshare.net/download/1486097370b5c665/

PERICE MOJE MERICE (1985) http://www.zshare.net/audio/14861617624b7338/

SANJAM (1987) http://www.zshare.net/download/148618448b0ff28b/

For those of you interested in hearing more Brena stuff in MP3 format, email me and I’ll sort you out. Almost all of her back catalogue is virtually impossible to purchase these days, aside from a few shoddily put together best of collections and her ‘re-recorded’ greatest hits from 2004. And just for the record, her best records are as follows: 1985’s “Seik” - 1986’s “Voli Me Voli” and 1987’s soundtrack to the movie “Hajde Da Se Volimo.”

Still interested? Here’s some YouTube loving.

The greatest video clip of all time. “Sanjam,” from her first feature film. What’s going on in it? Who cares!

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“Luda Za Tobom” from 1996. Incredible stuff.

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The French version of her hit “Okraces Mi Ledja.” I was so obsessed with this particular version as a child that I wore out the video cassette it came on. Thank god for YouTube.

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This one is called “Seik” which - to this day - is probably my favourite song of Brena’s ever recorded. There is family video footage of me emulating the video clip as a 3 year old with my grandmother in a park. And by ‘emulating,’ I mean I was beating her (lightly) over the head with a tree branch whilst singing the chorus. MP3 here.

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For the first few years of her career, Brena wanted to be Agnetha from ABBA. Here she is in 2003 doing an ABBA medley with some of her fellow euro-pop stars on 2003’s “The Lepa Brena Show.” English As A Seventh Language Alert.

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This is “Robinja,” and the clip is a scene taken from the “Hajde Da Se Volimo” sequel, “Hajde Da Se Volimo 2″ from 1989.

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Tight Pants! Oooh Oooh (Kiss Kiss Kiss!) “Uske Pantalone” from 1987.

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“Sitnije Cile Sitnije,” her potential Eurovision entry. It didn’t make it through the final selection, but DID go on to outsell the chosen entry. Go figure.

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“Mace Moje” completely mimed to the original version from 1987 on television in 2004. Incredible. Thing is; on the ex-Yugoslav type Top Of The Pops shows, NO ONE sings live, it’s all mimed. I guess we’re lucky they’re even transmitting I suppose. There’s a snippet of the original clip from ‘87 which you can see here.

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“Janos” performed in 2006 on Pink TV in Serbia.

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THE VINES
Melodia
(IVY LEAGUE) B+

Fourteen tracks. One of them runs for 6 minutes. The remaining thirteen are never given the chance to make it to 3 minutes, with one track not even making it to 1. To top it all off, The Vines’ fourth studio album, “Melodia,” when adding together all of those minutes, clocks in at 32. Exactly the way we’ve come to love it from them; short and sweet. Ladies and Gentlemen; give a big, warm welcome back to The Vines, one of Australia’s most important Rock & Roll acts in our nations musical history. Having officially departed from their major-label deal with EMI (who dropped the guys after average sales of their third album “Vision Valley,”) The Vines have moved shop; Sydney’s Ivy League Records, which is distributed by Warner Music Australia. The move has ensured that “Melodia” is their best record in years.

Get Out kicks the album off in a bit of a familiar blaze; it’s almost like a watered down version of 2002’s Get Free. Thankfully, things swiftly shift into top gear after a shaky start once Manger throws itself in your face with its urgent verses and killer chorus. In fact, anyone who was a keen follower of that Seattle grunge sound from the mid-90’s might spot a resemblance between the verses in Manger and the ones in Hole’s 1994 classic “Plump.”

As 3 brings things down a few notches for some mellow life-reflection condensed into 1 minute and 54 seconds, before launching into He’s A Rocker, an obvious choice for a first single from this project. Orange Amber is The Vines paying homage to The Beatles, whilst Jamola is just a bunch of loud noises that run for a total of 59 seconds, yet still manage to be completely enjoyable. True As The Night is as close to a ballad as the boys get on Melodia, and is the records longest running song; 6 minutes! Beautifully, those 6 minutes are musically epic and monstrous; this track will be a momentous lighter-waving-moment come future live shows; a truly magnetic and captivating piece of music. Scream is VERY Babes In Toyland, and Merrygoround is — dare I say it — a little Kurt Cobain in its approach.

Reaching back into Beatles-mode, Kara Jayne and A Girl I Knew are melodic, mid-tempo and exciting pop – yes, pop! – songs, the former being the records loveliest home to vocal harmonization. Incredible. Album closer She Is Gone is a nifty piece of 60’s psychedelia anyone would be happy to position their ears around.

In my opinion, The Vines’ previous two albums were unable to surpass that undisputed raw and unhinged fire found within their debut, Highly Evolved. Thankfully, Melodia seems to have reignited that passionate fire within them as a band, something which many would say (including me) was missing from their previous effort. Melodia is very much up there with that debut as being a truly gritty, yet enjoyable, record. By incorporating elements of the old and beloved into their sound, almost ironically, they’ve managed to give themselves and their music the necessary facelift it required.

If you ever needed further proof that Rock & Roll will never die, then Melodia will be the collection of tunes to shed light on the subject.

I’m not going to fuck around with my intentions on this one; let’s get straight to the point. Van She’s “Strangers” was released last Saturday in all good Australian record stores and via the Aussie iTunes website. You can buy yourself the physical CD from here, or the EP digital bundle with bonus b-side (the ace, ace, ACE and surreal-as-fuck “Black Dot”) by clicking here. Please do not purhcase your Van She records from Sanity music stores; those sales do NOT count towards the ARIA charts.

You can watch the video for “Strangers” here, view your video invite to the boys’ Van She Party tour coming up in July by going here, and you can visit the bands blog on their MySpazz page here. There’s also a great Van She group on Faceplace, “I Heart Van She,” which is located on this particle of the interwebs. Join it and show the boys your support.

Oh look, and here is a little widget in which you can hear a couple more song from the August released album “V”.

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Incredible.Where will the single chart on Sunday? While you’re waiting for the announcement, why not read through everything I’ve said about the band since December last year?

I got an email from James Ash (pictured, second from left) from the Rogue Traders today with a link to an official Rogue Announcement over on the bands online forum. Here’s what he had to say…

Firstly, we all just wanted to extend an enormous thank you to everyone for coming out in droves around the country and supporting our Better In The Dark tour. It really was very humbling for us to arrive in places we’ve never played before, then peak out from behind the curtain and see full-houses waiting for us. It was a supreme effort on the part of our fans – and definitely something we will always remember…

…These last twelve months have been incredibly jam-packed – a new album going platinum, three singles, constant travel and then capping it all off with a national tour. And with that, our thoughts now turn to the future.

As I’m sure every single one of you already knows, this tour was always expected to be our last tour for some time, as we knew Nat was going to work on solo and other commitments, which could take some years to complete.

Because of this, sadly, after a great deal of consideration we’ve come to the conclusion that as Nat’s career choices are taking her in new and exciting directions, she won’t be able to be a part of the Rogue Traders.

We know this news will be deeply disappointing to many of you. I’m sure you can appreciate it was an extremely difficult conclusion to reach. It’s hard to express in a few sentences the feelings that come with such a decision.

Above all, Nat and I both want you to know that we part company as best friends, with a deep love and respect for each other and what we have achieved over the last three and a half years.

But this is far from the end for the Rogue’s.

Rogue Traders has always been a project in transition: Beginning as a DJ duo - transforming into an international pop act. With Phase 2 coming to a close, Phase 3 of Rogue Traders is about to begin, and [you] most literally won’t see it coming…

But no matter what happens in the future, nothing can diminish the bond we have forged bringing our music to the world. We stand extremely proud. Above all, we’d like to thank you for accepting us and our music – it’s been our unique honour.

Love James.

Sad, sad news. I don’t know what to say, except that I wish Nat all the best in her solo efforts (so long as the material sounds nothing like that fucking cover of “Don’t Give Up” or, god forbid, she releases an album full of ballads,) and to James, Mel, Danny and Cam as they continue on as the Rogue Traders.

I’ve been a long-time fan and supporter/defender of James Ash and his musical stylings. From his days as my 2nd favourite Hitz FM DJ, to the productions of Faith In Technology, Thunderchild, Union State and Rogue Traders pre-Natalie and Rogue Traders with Natalie, James has always crafted fine material; music that makes you move and, more importantly, gives you that excitable feeling in your tummy when you hear it. Whatever direction the Rogue’s go in now without Natalie, I — as I’m sure many others are too — am behind them 100%. It’s going to be strange, but If anyone can pull it off, it’s those guys.

Here’s to the future for both artists. Who knows what James & co have got planned? Will they find a female replacement? That would certainly be interesting.

Just in case the Rogue Traders are stuck as to who, should they even decide to, they’ll be replacing Natalie with, I’ve thrown together a list.

* Rachel Stevens = Not exactly doing anything, might have trouble singing live though.

* Jamelia = Not exactly doing anything, might have trouble avoiding hernia’s should Simon Amstell be in the audience.

* Siobhan Donaghy = Not exactly doing anything, might have trouble coming down off that cloud in the sky though.

* Kylie Minogue = Not exactly selling anything, might as well give this a whirl. I would have said Dannii, what with her being my Minogue of choice, but she’s $ucce$$ful in her profession these days; move over Judy - Dannii is now the worlds greatest and most loved professional Judge!

* Gina Riley = Not exactly busy now that Kath & Kim is on hiatus; bitch can sing!

* Amiel = Not exactly busy now, nor has she been busy since Joshabrahams-gate.

* Jo O’Meara = Just kidding LULZLAWLZCAT! ROFLCOPTER.

Thoughts? There’s also the possibility it could be a male singing or multiple vocalists, like ‘back in the day.’ What about that Maree chick from Union State’s “The One”? She might be fun (if she’s still with us?)

COLDPLAY
Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends
(EMI) A+

I was going to write about this album and give it a separate entity in review form to the one I wrote for Forte Magazine.  But, in the end, I just got lazy liked the Forte one too much, I figured I’d just republish it here.  Exactly as it went to print last fortnight, here are my thoughts, track-by-track…

It’s hard to believe that a band with such an imprint on music and popular culture like Coldplay have only been releasing material for just over 10 years.  It was only 8 years ago that the band had their first proper hit single in this country, “Yellow.”  Little did anyone know that eight years later, a Coldplay album would be just as globally anticipated as the works of Pop and Rock & Roll’s biggest legends.

There are so many artists who lose their momentum by the release of a fourth album. On Coldplay’s fourth, not only do they surpass the brilliance of their previous work, the smash down all misconceptions held by those who feel they can’t work past that trademark stadium-rock sound they’ve championed over the years.  Experimental, refreshing, life-affirming and beautiful; Viva is a musical masterpiece.

LIFE IN TECHNICOLOR
A nearly-instrumental opener which, just after the 2 minute mark, subtlety (in fact, it’s almost not even there) brings in the distinguishable voice of Chris Martin woaah-oh-ohhhhh-ing in the background.

CEMETERIES OF LONDON
A folky number with exceptional structure; look out for that subtle chorus, the spikey middle 8, and the consistent double-hand-claps through out the song. The records first (of many) mentions of God. “I see God come in my garden, but I don’t know what he said, for my heart it wasn’t open/and the night over London lay/there’s no light over London today.”

LOST!
Clunky beats latching onto a heavenly approach which, with the added church organ, make this sound like it’s been ripped right out of the choir halls of Urban America.  Not the records strongest moment (lyrically it’s actually quite boring,) however it most definitely houses some spectacular production elements.

42
Imagine what Radiohead, The Doors and The Killers would sound like if they all collaborated.  Times that thought by about 10 and you’ve got yourself the delightfully schizophrenic “42”, one of the greatest moments on Viva.  The music fronted in the first 90 seconds is deceptively melancholic, but things take an exciting turn after the 1:40 mark; twisted, all-out-guitar warps which sounds like a modern-day version of The Doors performing live on a psychadelic acid-trip, before it all erupts into a proper, bonafide pop song in its last minute.  Martin sings “You thought you might be a ghost, you didn’t get to heaven but you made it close” atop of the most joyous musical piece they’ve ever put into the public spectrum.  A truly remarkable, career defining moment.  Note the return of double hand claps.

LOVERS IN JAPAN
This one sounds a little like La Rocca’s ace “Non Believer” from 2006; never a bad thing.  More importantly, it also sounds like classic Coldplay. Just when the listener may feel a little isolated by the experimentation of the first few tracks on the record, “Lovers In Japan” comes in to re-establish the fact that Coldplay are still more than capable of making stadium-stompers. You can just hear the club remix in your head, can’t you?

REIGN OF LOVE
Another of many god/prayer/religion referencing moments on La Vida, this is a tender piano-and-synth driven ballad which presents itself with elegance and grace.  Without sounding too morbid — no offence to the guys whatsoever — this is going to make a very powerful funeral track for someone one day.

YES
Martin begins the song in a lower register — another sign of the group continuing to move out of their comfort zone — before things ricochet into a blistering Middle-eastern-cum-Balkan-esque concoction of strings and beats.  Then, after the chorus, Coldplay go almost-country.  “I’ve become so tired of this lonely mess,” croons Martin, before takings things back to Nashville. Breathtaking.

CHINESE SLEEP CHANT
Interestingly, tagged onto the end of “Yes” making them the one track, “Chinese Sleep Chant” is what Coldplay may have recorded had they been around in Seattle during that big grungey musical boom of the early 90’s.  La Vida’s third best moment.

VIVA LA VIDA
The greatest Coldplay single to date? You bet.  The gradual build of this precious masterpiece is an absolute bonza affair; that bassline, that chorus, the heavenly harmony, those divine strings.  Forget any of your previous thoughts or misconceptions when it comes to Coldplay; if you already loved them it’s going to be evident that this is the most spectacular single they’ve thrown into the mix, and if you’re a non believer in the band then this song has more potential than any of their others to change your mind.  A serious contender for single of the year.

VIOLET HILL
A dramatic dose of rock with a demonic and heavily urgent chorus.  And what about that middle 8?  Pretty special.  In what could be interpreted as a lost or misguided plight for spirituality, Martin sings “Priests clutched onto bibles, hollowed out to fit their rifles, and the cross was held aloft, bury me in armour, when I’m dead and hit the ground/If you love, won’t you let me know?”  The albums first single and another example of the spectacular direction the band have taken their music to on this record.

STRAWBERRY SWING
An incredible love song, this is The Beatles, without actually being The Beatles. Whilst still sounding completely like Coldplay! Very good.  Also one of La Vida’s more positively approached songs; “It’s such a perfect day/wouldn’t wanna change a thing/now the sky could be blue, I don’t mind, without you it’s a waste of time.”  Awwww, Chris Martin + Gwenyth 4 LYF.

DEATH & ALL HIS FRIENDS/THE ESCAPIST
Exhilarating, powerful and poignant stuff, this is yet another career high for the boys, with lyrics that seem to argue the bands point with the world on history repeating itself. “No I don’t wanna battle from beginning to end, I don’t want a cycle of recycled revenge, I don’t wanna follow death and all his friends.”  Then there’s “The Escapist,” a hidden track tagged onto the end of “Death,” which takes the dreamy, instrumental album opener and turns it into a truly ethereal piece of musical perfection.  A stellar way to cap off the audio experience of Viva.

Van She stuffs coming this week.  If all goes to plan, should be a bit of fun to celebrate the release of their new single “Strangers.” 

A: The brand new Sneaky Sound System single, “Kansas City.”

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Released July 12th, with the album, “2″ following in mid-August. Fuck. Yes.