Arguably one of the most influential and important indie bands of the early 2000s are The Libertines. The aftershocks of their 2002 debut album, Up The Bracket are still being felt, so much so that in 2010, the band reformed to play concerts at Reading and Leeds festivals to a new generation of music lovers. Leaving the band's troubled history and current up in the air status aside, it's hard to believe Up The Bracket was released 10 years ago. Today, British indie music could do with a pioneer to bring it out of the NME-based rut it has fallen into, but for now, let's forget that and cast our minds back to mid-2002...
Things have changed since then - Tony Blair was still Prime Minister, George Bush was the President, the Arctic Monkeys were still enduring secondary school and The Strokes were the only decent indie band out there. Guitar driven pop was, you could say, on a hiatus. Huge bands such as Muse, Foo Fighters and Coldplay dominated the music scene, but there wasn't much for someone who didn't want to listen to Dave Grohl's harsh vocals and fuzzy guitars, but wasn't quite pathetic enough to want to listen to Chris Martin whine into a microphone about his piano.
Then came The Libertines, a breath of fresh air into the British music scene. Of course, the NME practically adopted them, but not without good cause. Pete Doherty and Carl Barat's friendship (and later their very public falling out) and chaotic stage personas were as important as the music itself. Doherty's lyrics painted a strangely idealistic view of Great Britain, almost fondly revealing the cracks in society. 'Time For Heroes' mourns the loss of poetry and Englishness - "there are fewer more distressing sights than that of an English man in a baseball hat" - while 'Horrorshow' is a love poem to heroin, something that is close to the media's heart when depicting Pete Doherty.
However, the influence of the album cannot be denied. The band had dedicated fans and followers - and there was massive speculation that they would become the next Smiths. In some ways, they did. The lyrics on Up The Bracket almost rival Morrissey's offerings, and the band did not last as long as they were expected to, breaking up after only two albums. Looking at the British music scene just 2 or 3 years later, it was peppered with guitar based indie bands, offering their own take on the sound that the Libertines made so famous. Franz Ferdinand, The Futureheads, Kaiser Chiefs and Bloc Party suddenly found their sound had appeal and people wanted to listen to their music. Heck, even Graham Coxon was so inspired by The Libertines he actually covered 'Time For Heroes'!
Perhaps indie music nowadays is lacking its 'new sound' for the decade. The Smiths did it in the 80s, Blur in the 90s and The Libertines in the 2000s. British guitar music is crying out for a new figurehead and time is running out. Who will take up the mantle next...?
Saturday 6 October 2012
Friday 3 August 2012
Monday 30 July 2012
The Recyclable Youtube: The Christian Bale Rage
We all remember it. The filming of Terminator: Salvation was halted when a technician walked onto the set just as Christian Bale was about to do some acting. That day, something was unleashed to the world: The Christian Bale Rant. Whoever was recording it suddenly found they had enormous power. It was leaked and soon Bale became the centre of the internet's attention. More specifically, Youtube.
The guys who acted the scene out are brilliant. Although this video is made even funnier by the amount of comments made by angry Youtubers asserting that is 'isn't real' and that it's 'a fake'. Yes, we rather think that's the point!
There are many remixes, so we've chosen just one - this is our favourite. Bale Out is a rather expletive driven number, so don't play this with small children or your boss in earshot.
The there was this. The Mae Shi (whoever they are) released this song. Not only does it include clips from the rant, but it also includes a reference to almost all of Bale's films. It's probably the most epic song ever written.
Poor Christian Bale.
The guys who acted the scene out are brilliant. Although this video is made even funnier by the amount of comments made by angry Youtubers asserting that is 'isn't real' and that it's 'a fake'. Yes, we rather think that's the point!
There are many remixes, so we've chosen just one - this is our favourite. Bale Out is a rather expletive driven number, so don't play this with small children or your boss in earshot.
The there was this. The Mae Shi (whoever they are) released this song. Not only does it include clips from the rant, but it also includes a reference to almost all of Bale's films. It's probably the most epic song ever written.
Poor Christian Bale.
Friday 27 July 2012
Weekly Poll 2: Buffy
We love to know what our readers think. This week's poll is on whether or not you think there should be a Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie? So what will it be?!
Thursday 26 July 2012
Anatomy of a House Episode
1. Someone collapses.
2. House thinks it's boring.
3. Something odd happens to the patient.
4. House takes on the case.
5. House calls his team idiots.
Meanwhile House is having a bet with Wilson about something.
6. House asks the team to perform a unethical test. Cuddy is outraged but he talks her round.
7. It doesn't prove what he thought it would.
Meanwhile, the team break into the patient's house looking for environmental factors.
8. House calls the team idiots.
9. The team suggest ideas.
10. House lets them test for some other diseases.
11. This doesn't work either.
12. The team decide to perform a treatment for something House says it isn't.
13. House talks to Wilson and has an epiphany.
14. House rushes in to stop the wrong medication/surgery and saves the day.
15. House wins the bet.
16. We think House might learn things from the patient but he doesn't.
2. House thinks it's boring.
3. Something odd happens to the patient.
4. House takes on the case.
5. House calls his team idiots.
Meanwhile House is having a bet with Wilson about something.
6. House asks the team to perform a unethical test. Cuddy is outraged but he talks her round.
7. It doesn't prove what he thought it would.
Meanwhile, the team break into the patient's house looking for environmental factors.
8. House calls the team idiots.
9. The team suggest ideas.
10. House lets them test for some other diseases.
11. This doesn't work either.
12. The team decide to perform a treatment for something House says it isn't.
13. House talks to Wilson and has an epiphany.
14. House rushes in to stop the wrong medication/surgery and saves the day.
15. House wins the bet.
16. We think House might learn things from the patient but he doesn't.
Wednesday 25 July 2012
The Recyclable Youtube: Mario
Part of our recyclable Youtube series. I'm sure we all remember the good old days of Mario Bros. The two lovable Italian plumbers are still going today, and there's an awful lot of love for them on Youtube.
Firstly, there's the 'playing the music on weird musical instruments' group of individuals. This ranges from the remote control car and Tesla coils to the more standard instruments such as the violin guy, a capella guy and the double guitar. While not wildly creative, essentially they're just playing the main theme tune on their chosen instrument, they sure are entertaining. Thought has gone in to each one - the double guitar guy must be pretty talented and the remote control car must have taken ages to set up! We don't know much about giant Tesla coils here at Movies, Music and Soap, but we do know they cost a fortune, so the fact that these guys are playing the Mario theme on it is pretty hilarious, all things considered!
Then there's the arrangements. We're not going to focus on any of the dubstep remixes out there, because that's got its own post in the series, but there are some seriously good arrangements and remixes out there. Here are a few for your delight... The Fresh Prince of Bom-Omb Battlefield: while not strictly an arrangement or remix, it's a mashup which is kind of similar, right? Plus, we can't get enough of it. The Mario Elevator Music is also a must-listen! It's an easy listening of one of our favourite pieces of music from the Mario world. There are hundreds of remixes, but we're not convinced by most of them, but this sweet electro one did catch our attention Imagine how great life would be if elevators really did play this?! Lastly, we're going to leave you with a brilliant arrangement of The Smiths' This Charming Man, if it was included in a Mario game.
Finally, Mario Paint could practically be given its own post in this series, but there are some seriously amazing arrangements of music done on Mario Paint and uploaded to Youtube that we simply couldn't ignore it! Our favourite, by far has got to be the 16 minute long homage to the music from The Legend of Zelda, but then we're massive geeks! If you're anything like us, you'll find yourself occupied for the next hour or so, listening to all the Mario Paint songs.
Firstly, there's the 'playing the music on weird musical instruments' group of individuals. This ranges from the remote control car and Tesla coils to the more standard instruments such as the violin guy, a capella guy and the double guitar. While not wildly creative, essentially they're just playing the main theme tune on their chosen instrument, they sure are entertaining. Thought has gone in to each one - the double guitar guy must be pretty talented and the remote control car must have taken ages to set up! We don't know much about giant Tesla coils here at Movies, Music and Soap, but we do know they cost a fortune, so the fact that these guys are playing the Mario theme on it is pretty hilarious, all things considered!
Then there's the arrangements. We're not going to focus on any of the dubstep remixes out there, because that's got its own post in the series, but there are some seriously good arrangements and remixes out there. Here are a few for your delight... The Fresh Prince of Bom-Omb Battlefield: while not strictly an arrangement or remix, it's a mashup which is kind of similar, right? Plus, we can't get enough of it. The Mario Elevator Music is also a must-listen! It's an easy listening of one of our favourite pieces of music from the Mario world. There are hundreds of remixes, but we're not convinced by most of them, but this sweet electro one did catch our attention Imagine how great life would be if elevators really did play this?! Lastly, we're going to leave you with a brilliant arrangement of The Smiths' This Charming Man, if it was included in a Mario game.
Finally, Mario Paint could practically be given its own post in this series, but there are some seriously amazing arrangements of music done on Mario Paint and uploaded to Youtube that we simply couldn't ignore it! Our favourite, by far has got to be the 16 minute long homage to the music from The Legend of Zelda, but then we're massive geeks! If you're anything like us, you'll find yourself occupied for the next hour or so, listening to all the Mario Paint songs.
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