Izzy Brooks and Colin Ramsay have contrived to transcribe some of their views on the past year of music. Hold on to your hats, chums.
Colin Ramsay: Coldplay, innit? I truly believe that this lot have been cursed by success, not to mention their early Travis comparisons. Looking back at Parachutes, it's a fairly bleak album - if some marketing genius hadn't realised what they had in Yellow, I don't imagine they'd have been able to break through with Trouble afterwards.
Izzy Brooks: I think their first album was gash compared to the majesty of A Rush Of Blood To The Head. Most of Parachutes sounds like some second rate indie band who are touring round such salubrious venues such as Sheffield Boardwalk and Wolverhampton Student Union. Plus Chris Martin in the windcheater on that beach in the video for Yellow is nothing less than a disturbing sight. Some people look good in the rain but alas not Chris. The day he pulled on that white shirt for the Scientist is the day a million women said "Who is this man and where has he been all our lives". Nuff said.
CR: No, no and thrice no. The definition of Parachutes as "Indie" is
IB: Parachutes is like David Gray but if he were indie and didn't wobble his head so much. The video for Yellow is rubbish yes. The video for The Scientist is very clever. Apparently ripped off from some hip hop outfits effort of a similar nature some years ago. Not that I would know about that as I am not down with the kids.
CR: Indeed, the closest you got was when you told my 17 year old brother that you "quite liked that Vanilla Ice".
Right, lets push things forward - The Datsuns. Now I've only heard a
few tracks but you seemed to be creaming up over them. Plus they've got a track called "Motherfucker From Hell" which makes them about 5000 times better than 98% of other bands.
IB: The Datsuns??? Blustery and exciting. I'm not a big fan of rock but when I heard In Love for the first time I was compelled to jaunt around my house like a maniac. Same goes for Harmonic Generator. Just listen to when it goes into that mad guitar riff in the last section complete with Dolf virtually screaming the lyrics. From what I have seen around on MTV etc they look really exciting live, my jury is still out on the quality of his voice live but he gets 6.0 for Artistic Impression - namely the drainpipe Levi's, kicking leg movements and Mick Jagger gurns.
CR: Also that lull before the guitar solo on In Love: "We best believe that we're in lu-huuuv" - I like it. They're the BRMC for this year - dirty, dirty, filthy, hot and firey. I'd say we approve?
IB: Damn right I approve. I cannot literally wait to see them live. I'm worried that it will either be a mega let down or I will spontaneously combust. Whatever anyway Dolf's hair will look ultra shiny and lush. Surely worth the price of a ticket in itself.
CR: Hmm hair is greater than music to you... interesting *combs hair furiously*
IB: Ok well speaking of hair. The greatest rock mop of all time must surely belong to that of Danny McNamara. But with Embrace disappearing off the face of the earth for nigh on 2 years I am worried that when they emerge he may have gray streaks in his once luscious mop. I am afraid I am kind of like some of the idiots who post on the Embrace board. I WANT SOME NEWS. Occasional posts by Mickey Dale re : nothing at all and a fresh spanking new message board hasn't quelled my thirst. I want some news and I want it now!
CR: Well you have news now - a bit. But just get a grip, they are only a band. They've *already* changed us, that's in the past and I'm thankful for it. Everything else is a bonus. Embrace, the most underrated band of all time?
IB: Ok how about Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. I didn't pay them much attention when they first exploded onto the scene, but the very Doors like "Spread Your Love" (Roadhouse Blues anyone?) caught my ear. Now I find them strangely intriguing.
CR: They rock because they bring the bass to the forefront. Too many bands suck mega-ass because they have a twattish bass player who's fingers are glued to the low end of the neck. They have great hair, and they do rock.
IB: I always thought they would be quite boring live, I don't know why, two blokes up front dressed in black leather and denim and Nick pounding away at the back. But having seen video footage of them I now know I made totally wrong decision by choosing to see Foo Fighters at the close of last years Leeds festival rather than heading down to the Evening Session tent to see BRMC. Oh how I am itching to rectify that mistake.
CR: Ahh festivals! I hope we have our T In The Park Tickets booked? How good does that festival look? Flips, Fannies (teehee fanny) and... AND: AINSLEY OFF FAME ACADEMY! I KNOW!!
IB: I don't have my T ticket booked no, cause unless I either mug an old granny in Marks and Sparks foodhall or win the lottery this week I'll be forced to live off crackers let alone do anything that might be classed as enjoying myself. Having said that, now I know Ainsley is playing I may have to out and prostitute myself tonight to raise the funds :p
CR: Tell a lie, it's not him it's some American dude, I got excited, wasn't thinking straight, can't read, am stupid. Hmph, the spark's gone out of my day now.
IB: I feel deflated too. I may partake in a drink.
CR: Good plan. Shall we go to the GAY BAR GAY BAR?
IB: Can we go in your gay car gay car? Well I like Electric 6 even though I find them more disturbing than a night down the Mecca bingo with Marilyn Manson. But they are interesting beyond intriguing and have resurrected disco in a fitting style for the millennium.
CR: Less with the gay car stuff. LESS. Electric Six disturb me, the Danger! Danger! video was truly one of the most appalling things I've ever seen. However, it did succeed in being discotastic & Gay Bar follows that theme. Greasy old men playing disco IS sick and wrong, but Gay Bar makes me feel so right.
IB: Listen put it this way, when that opening guitar riff of Danger Danger tweaks up and down the Think Tank..you just know what is going to happen. We are going to rise from our drinking positions and proceed to dance like epileptics on E's. And that just pretty much sums up the greatness of the disco tastic Electric 6.
CR: Couldn't agree more. Right, this is all getting very lovey dovey, let's talk about someone shit - Leaves.
IB: Listen I like Leaves. I admit they took a while to grow on me and I had to do a fair amount of gulping of deep breaths before I could publicly admit that Breathe was my fave album of last year but....to hell with it, IT WAS. I don't know how you can listen to the hushed melancholy of a track like Epitaph or Silence and not be moved. I know some of it is mere wash off indie pop ie: Catch but other tracks like Race and Crazy are top notch bouncy tunes. I like em...like Mansun only good.
CR: And if that last statement ain't a talking point I don't know what is... job's a good un Izzo ;)
Izzy Brooks, Colin Ramsay.
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