Cantaloop - 'Brotherhood'

Woo! Cantaloop! Aaah it’s good to remember the days before hip-hop got all serious and everyone started banging on about how tough they were and how many bitches they’d had. Cantaloop reignite the flame of fun, danceable, and genuinely talented hip hop as they also play as a gigantic live band. Their new single ‘Brotherhood’ is nothing short of ‘bloody great’, think J5, PE and Cyprus Hill thrown in together and that is definitely a great thing! I might even pop out and go and see them on tour as apparently they’ve had some of The Fun Lovin’ Criminals playing with them on stage. I never really liked ‘em but the thought of some silky smooth grooves mixed in with this horn-filled hip-hop act sounds like a pretty decent prospect to me. Maybe I’ll see you there?

myspace.com/cantaloopnufunk

I've been listening to Myriad Creatures recently. Was sent a copy of their single by their PR company and they've really been on my back to listen to it telling me it was worth my time. Hadn't heard of them before so it has taken me this long to give the record a spin. Wish I'd listened sooner; "Hero", the one track on the record, is really something.

The riff is undoubtedly catchy and I really like the vocalist's voice.. would welcome hearing more from this lot. And they're stuck in Berlin too!

myspace.com/myriadcreatures

I should listen to PR's more often..

I'm off to watch the Giants/Dolphins game at Wembley on the 28th so only 19 days until the big one!

I am also looking at the property market - well hopefully am moving to a new house with the lady soon - should be fun!

Music-wise I bought the new Springsteen record last night and it's wicked, a real return to form - I'm loving the return of big Clarence on the saxamaphone! the title track is cool and the single is great as well. I hate to endorse it but ou can buy it for less than a tenner in Tescos so get yo asses down there and pick up a copy!

I'm massively swamped at work today so I'll keep this one brief but I'll also hook you up with a classic piece of tuneage, will definitely make you smile!

I don't really care about music-politics but I would just like to point out that I had heard this song a long time before it was used in Scrubs!

Cheers

TMM

I'm still here! What did you think of my first post back? Lots of interesting internet gossip I thought!

Firstly lets get the good news out of the way - my Patriots won again moving them to a very tasty 5-0!

Then the bad news - I am currently behind on my fantasy league moving me to a likely 2-3 record, only an impressive monday night result can move me to 3-2 now...

As for music I have been listening to a lot of stuff recently, including: Tiger Army - Music From Regions Beyond, Ben Lee - Ripe, Molly Beanland (myspace stuff) & Guster - Ganging Up On The Sun.

All great records, I really enjoyed all of them - Molly has an amazing voice, Tiger Army are perfect for my punk/country sensibilities and Guster and Ben Lee both provide an excellent and fairly mellow alternative sound.

I've also been watching lots of films and would highly recommend the Grindhouse films, preferably if you can see them in one showing! I'm highly anticipating Halloween as well and should be seeing this during the week as part of a compromise with my lovely lady who is taking me to see Atonement, therefore I will have a diverse week of cinema!

I should be heading to a gig tomorrow night in Bethnall Green to see Caro, an artist I have previously mentionned on this blog - take a peek at their page at myspace.com/carofeatcharliebatchelor to see if you fancy joining me there.

I also went to see Johnny Foreigner on Friday night (as well as Thursday night) and they really were just that good! Coulda done with a little more in the way of volume but still a great show! check them out as well at www.myspace.com/johnnyforeigner

And what the hell, while I'm at it I'll point you in the direction of Molly Beanland - www.myspace.com/mollybeanland.

All definitely worth a peek!

I'm enjoying this blogging malarkey again - dunno why I ever stopped really!

Let me know what you reckon on the new length of posts and topics and that and as always, let me know what you think of my recommendations!

Cheers

TMM

Sorry it's been a while but I'm back with avengeance and I'm turning over a new leaf - it's gonna get bigger and better - starting with the first monster post!

The first thing I wanted to talk about is something I don't usually have much of an interest for but thought was quite interesting all the same. I got a cd of 'R U Ready' a few weeks back and decided to leave it in the 'no' pile for a while. I then read a 'story' in the News of the World about an up and coming UK Urban RnB artist, Anusha, who appears to be on the verge of making a bit of a splash on the other side of the pond. She has been tipped for success by the one and only PUFF DADDY (I don't care what everyone says, he was at his best when he was puffy so that's what he will always be in my mind!) Whilst I'm not one for much RnB I would like to offer my congratulations to the girl as it's a tough scene to break out into, especially in a climate overrun by American tartlets with negligable talent. She's just been playlisted at MTV Base so any of my more 'urban' readers can see her video for 'R U Ready' on t'telly and I will post it here as well.

myspace.com/anushamusic

Up next is a couple of interesting stories I've noticed going around the internet, first up is something I expect to be a look-alike hoax but can't quite decide yet. I cruised past the George Michael forum and had a read about what those guys think and the most telling thing seems to be that 'George Michael', a notorious lefty, signed something for a fan with his right hand - tut tut! But still - definitely sounds like a George Michael song so who the fuck knows?

You be the judge yourselves...

On another note I also spotted this next one once I got on the case with 'celebrity videos'... Not sure on this one either, it's 'Hugh Grant', apparently, playing at a small local acoustic indie night. It's not a great video (seems to be a bit of a running motif with these celeb vids) but certainly has a look of Hugh Grant - although I had no clue he played any instruments, or indeed sang!

The final thing I want to talk about is a wicked awesome new band I watched last night. Been hearing a lot about them from all over the shop so was well chuffed when a copy of their EP found it's way across my desk! The band in question - Johnny Foreigner... A buzz band in a big way. I was very excited when I put this one in my player - and it didn't disappoint! I'll be writing a full review of the EP very soon but for the meantime will direct you to their myspace for a bit of a listen at myspace.com/johnnyforeigner - Prepare to be impressed, frenetic indie punk at it's finest. I was lucky enough to see them at the Portland Arms in Cambridge last night and they asked that I refer to them as 'somewhere between Blink & Bloc Party', they're not far wrong - but I don't do waht bands tell me! I also just might have to stop by their gig in Newcross, London tonight, should be a good one, anyone who lives locally should definitely make the trip.

Right, so that was long and it's nice to be back, as always keep me posted with any recommendations/requests...

Cheers

TMM

As promised here's another one for y'all and I'm listening to the new Ben Lee record atm so that one should be up shortly!

Female fronted bands, in my opinion, always have an uphill battle to fight from the offset. Not least because it’s easy to lose respect for the lasses in amongst all that jumping around in tight tops. Luckily for ‘Grace Solero’ (writers of debut album ‘New Moon’) this is a record review and not a live one. So in the CD goes…

Impressive... 'If U feel', 'Apartheid' and 'Troops' are the album’s true gems, but the whole album smacks of Skunk-Anansie. Lead vocalist Grace may be from the other side of the world but her vocals could easily pass for Skin’s. This is the only down point on a very fine record so if you can put that out of your mind (and the fact that her surname is an ice-cream) you’ll certainly get a kick out of this heavy rocking, riff-laden, near-masterpiece - Class!

www.myspace.com/gracesolero

I finally got around to some more reviews, another one to follow tomorrow.....

"Harsh but fair"

Sometimes, if I’m feeling particularly lazy, I like to arrange my review material into 2 piles; Yes and No. So when I found out that this following band had an affiliation with Ewan McGregor (weasley Scottish tit-box for all you foreigners reading this) you can guess which pile it was heading for. But when I put the record in anyway – new album ‘Here Goes Everything’ by 50Hz – I almost ate my words, shat them out and then ate the shit all over again. It’s actually not a bad album at all.

The song ‘Panic Attack’ was the potential offending track that Ewan liked. It ended up being featured on his motorcycling documentary ‘Long Way Round’. However a track from Radiohead also appeared on there so it’s not all bad.

Other areas worth mentioning are that the artwork is a bit toss. Ignore that and this album should set you up for at least a few interesting spins.

So there was that, sorry it's been so long and I've got another coming up tomorrow!

Cheers TMM

Howdi peeps,

Busy weekends? Mine was mighty busy but was cool also.

Saw a couple of bands on Friday night then woke up with a hangover that could slay a walrus - but it passed soon enough.

The weekend culminated in my beloved New England Patriots slaying the New York Jets (as expected ) Looks like the season is going to go well after all!

What did you all get up to?

I've got a couple of music reviews coming up soon! For once! lol

Have a good one

TMM

Now you've all had a chance to recap on previously featured artists I've got some news for ya - you can go watch a couple of them tonight!

Now that I've reviewed them once I've been getting promos and press releases etc (which I've got to say makes me feel pretty important! lol) and two of the artists are playing this weekend. SO.....

If you are local to Bristol you can watch Simon le Fort at 'The Robin Hood' on St Michael's Hill tomorrow (Saturday) at 8pm

and if you enjoyed Karim Fanous, he's playing at the Trowse Festival in Norfolk on Saturday also.

Looks like it's gonna be a tough one if you live slap bang in the middle between Norfolk and Bristol but if you live nearer either one in particular you can pick more easily - plus Karim's gig is an excuse for probably one of the last festivals of the year!

I might try and make the one in Bristol but I'm off to a gig nearer to home tonight and it's gonna be a late one followed by an early one as I am heading to Suffolk tomorrow morning so we'll have to see how tired I am tomorrow!

Apologies are due again guys as I've slipped on the updating of this blog - the only excuse really is I havn't been sent much that's interesting for review and I've been super busy. If you've got anything you want reviewing that I can use to plug the gap and get this blog flowing again, do let me know.

Or give me a list of 5 older albums and we'll have a vote then I'll review the winner!?

Cheers and thanks for your continuing readership (If that's a word!)

TMM

Hi guys,

Sorry it's been a while since I got anything up but I've been working on a bit of a recap post!

I'm going to compile a list below of all the artists I've covered so far in this blog and I'm looking for a little feedback on what you think and who you've had a chance to check out. I will include the links as well for any entries you may have missed!

Van Tramp (gig)

Molly Beanland

Karim Fanous - Stir Crazy

Simon le Fort - Tuesday Blue

A List Of Tunes I Think You Should Own!

Messenger

The Neutrinos - One Way Kiss

Tom Waits - Closing Time

Silverfall

The Skies

Good Charlotte - Good Morning Revival

Van Tramp (Music)

Please have a browse or recap if you already read them and let me know if I have informed you of a new favourite band, found you a song you really like or just reintroduced you to something. I'm just curious really as to how this blog is going down overall!

Hope everyone's been good since I last posted and again, sorry it's been so long!

Cheers

TMM

P.S - please do keep comments to this post so I can keep track of them more easily!

Apologies for not putting anything up here so far today - been super busy and I was out with colleagues last night so I guess I've been a little sluggish today also!

It's also almost 4000 degrees in the office today so that's slowed me down too - must have drunk 60 pints of water today!

I will try and get something more musical up in the next day or two when I have some more time - the reviews side of things seems to have gotten a little sidetracked the past couple of weeks!

I did spend get an email at lunchtime tho with this from youtube, figured I would share... (NSFW - well if your boss isn't too keen on gratuitous bikinis and side boob! lol)

It's nice to see that

Have a good one and accept my boob based apology and I'll get you something more reviewy up ASAP

Cheers

TMM

This CD rocks! I just may have to get a review up some time soon, it sounds like a cross between Queens Of The Stone Age and Velvet Revolver only a bit heavier - loving it!

Check it out if you have a second!

TMM

So it feels like a Tuesday - and that can't be a bad thing! And the suns still more or less out! Overall, it's a good wednesday! Oh and by the way this entry has nothing to do with the title, except we are listening to the new 'Minus' record and that's what's on the cover - literally!

I've got lots of work on the go today and I've got lots of musical stuff to talk about over the course of the day as I had a chance to play my guitar, nose through my music collection and look at all the new stuff I've been getting in - It's suprising how being busy can slow down your music 'ness'? lol

Anyhow I must shove my nose back up against the grindstone but I'm gonna try and get a review done today and then I will put the (finally finished) Bad Religion review up when I get a chance to use my personal computer again at home...

Right, I'm off

have a good one,

TMM

So I woke up this morning and felt like it was another day off - it was not! Then I had to take my car in for a new cambelt which is gonna cost me 200 squids and that made me a whole ten minutes late for work - not that anyone minds but I always feel guilty when I'm late! lol

Bank holiday was wicked though, wedding revolved around a hog roast and I got HORRIBLY drunk, but at least I wasn't the only one!

I also went fishing over the weekend and caught a delicious bass - by which I mean - I caught a 2lb carp, I didn't eat it and if I had, it wouldn't have been delicious! But I still feel like it was a success!

WHo else had a succesful weekend then?

TMM

Hey all,

any big plans for the weekend out there?

I'm off to a wedding tomorrow so there should be plenty of drinking involved in my weekend!

as for today I got stuck in traffic giving someone a lift to the train station and had a grotty lunch from M&S so that's not ideal! But there's only a few more hours before I can go home and watch Knocked Up, well go home, then go out to the cinema, but still! lol

Who's already seen it? I reckon it looks good but we'll see how it goes. I'll try and get a review up over the bank holiday as well, while it's fresh in my mind!

And..........done!

Cheers

TMM

And I have finished almost all of my work for the week and am ready to update all my reports as well!

That's not to say I won't have any work to do tomorrow as I will have to ACTUALLY update my reports and ACTUALLY finish all my work - but it's nice to feel like you're on top of things.

I've been hearing over and over about a double shooting in Hertfordshire on the radio today - I live in Hertfordshire and I'm sad to hear we're becoming American!

Anyhow, back to work - you don't stay on top of things by blogging!

Cheers

TMM

A large portion of my job involves surfing the internet and updating many sites, so I spend some serious hours every day intensively using the internet - It's great!

TMM

In much the same vain as last week's post I have been thinking about the end of the week again.

How early would you say the weekend starts in your work place? I've worked places before where by Wednesday afternoon people have their feet up on desks and such but aroudn these parts, as I said before, it's a high-pressure week, culminating in a busy Thursday/Friday.

So where you're at, when does the weekend begin? Or at least when do people's attitudes begin to show the weekend?

Right, back to the salt mines, I've got LOADS to do today so I'll post when I can!

Have a good one

TMM

P.S I watched 'Seed Of Chucky' last night, my god do I love the Chucky films!