en http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/uk/ Thu, 1 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 Thu, 1 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 60 http://www.audioscrobbler.net/data/webservices http://www.last.fm/user/nickjamesuk/journal The Last.fm journal for nickjamesuk. Last.fm journals are a place to talk about all things music. http://www.last.fm/user/nickjamesuk/journal/2006/11/29/39b3f_mixtape Wed, 29 Nov 2006 18:40:40 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/nickjamesuk/journal/2006/11/29/39b3f_mixtape Modest Mouse – Shit Luck
Sleater-Kinney – Entertain
Wolf Parade – Fancy Claps
Dawn of the Replicants – Ten Sea Birds
Built to Spill – I Would Hurt a Fly
16 Horsepower – Wayfaring Stranger
Candy Bars – The flood in your old town
Andrew Bird – Skin Is, My
Calexico/Iron and Wine – Burn That Broken Bed
Madvillain – Accordion
Kaizers Orchestra – Knekker Deg Til Sist
Talking Heads – Stay Hungry (Live)
Kristin Hersh – Spring
Rogue Wave – Love's Lost Guarantee
Tindersticks – Bathtime
Spoon – I Turn My Camera On
The Decemberists – Summersong
The Bens – Bruised
The Wedding Present – Interstate 5]]> http://www.last.fm/user/nickjamesuk/journal/2006/06/10/39ax0_in_the_reins Sat, 10 Jun 2006 13:52:50 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/nickjamesuk/journal/2006/06/10/39ax0_in_the_reins In the Reins

I have fairly mixed feelings about this album; when it works it really works (Broken Bed, In the Reins) but a lot of it just falls a little flat for me, with calexico muddying Beam's signature sparse arrangements. What I find most interesting about it, though, is the influence it seems to have had on both bands.

For Iron And Wine it seems like a natural step, the career standout Woman King EP had already introduced many of the elements on show here (albeit in significantly more refined form), although the smoky jazz atmosphere is something new. I can hardly wait to see what direction Beam will take next, especially given that he can incorporate new sounds and textures, while retaining the unique character which makes his songs special.

Calexico, however, seem to have taken the collaboration on board hook, line and sinker. Their Garden Ruin album is less Calexicoey than ever, with a lack of the instrumentals which made earlier albums such a pleasure. One can only imagine that Joey Burns was struck with a little songwriter envy on being let loose in the Sam Beam song storeroom. Moving on, and incorporating new elements into music is a great thing (heck, I'm even a fan of Modulate), and don't get me wrong the songs on Garden Ruin are mostly pretty great. I simply think it would be a shame to lose the individual voice that was so evident earlier on.]]> http://www.last.fm/user/nickjamesuk/journal/2006/06/07/39ami_ever_wondered... Wed, 7 Jun 2006 17:40:58 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/nickjamesuk/journal/2006/06/07/39ami_ever_wondered... ...what The Fall's Mark E Smith would sound like if, instead of being a miserible git, he lived somewhere sunny and had formed a B-52s tribute band. Wonder no longer, it would sound like this: How He Wrote Elastica Man.
Also, he'd wear bermuda shorts. Surf's Up!]]>