HAPPY BIRTHDAY TRIPLEJAYSUS!

Today marks the first birthday of the Triplejaysus blog! On the 14th of May 2007 triplejaysus went from a static page that just hosted the Borrowed Beats Podcast to the all-singing all-dancing music extravaganza you see today!

It has been so rewarding watching the site grow from 96 visits in May 2007 to close to 20,000 visits a month now. In the last 12 months there have been 140 posts - one every two and a half days.

I have reviewed 41 albums in the _wednesday weview series, issued 27 themed podcasts and previewed over 250 tracks. I expect my 100,000th visitor to the site in the next few days. Throughout the year I have received tracks from record labels, had _weviews used as press release on artist’s webpages and have had visitors from over 100 different countries.

So, to the prying: I love the occaisional feedback I receive from passers by, and was hoping that you might like to leave a comment, or flick me an email, to let me know what you enjoy about triplejaysus. Maybe you have a suggestion for a podcast theme, or just want to say hello. I’d love to hear from you, and you could consider it a birthday present!

Thanks folks, and here’s looking forward to the next 12 months!
Garvan

Foals – Antidote

Not much of the hype surrounding the release of Antidote reached Oz. SXSW festival goers and NME readers blogged and flogged Foals. Release of Antidote was delayed because the band didn’t like the production by Dave Sitek, of TV on the radio fame.
They remastered and produced the album themselves and it was released in late March, with a limited edition release in the UK.

Foals play an upbeat brand of rock with pop sensibilities. They’re sonic stable mates of Battles, with harmonic laden, polyrhythm pulsing rock songs in pop song clothing. Where Battles and Mars Volta veer to the avant guard, Foals have tight songs with concise structure.

Comparisons to Vampire Weekend are inevitable, although the similarity isn’t immediately obvious. Complex drum work with bolstering bass lines underpin distinctive vocals and pop hooks describes both bands, but this is not an either or case. Foals play pop music earnestly. And I seriously recommend you check them out.

THINK: Battles meet Vampire Weekend
READ: These Oxford boys whimsical blog
WATCH: Baloons video
BUY: Antidote at Foals shop

“And this just in: renowned music site and podcast host, Triplejaysus.com has launched a new side bar. They reportedly listen to a new album a day, but review only one a week in their popular _wednesday_weview feature. Earlier this week they launched a ‘What I’m listening to now:’ feature you can see on the right side bar of this site. Featured are up to 10 recently released albums, complete with album art, a taster mp3 and a rating.

This reporter suggested that the ‘crow‘ rating system be replaced with the ‘Kent‘ system, only to be shouted down and asked to leave. So there you have it folks, 10 new albums rated each week, and ten new mp3’s for you to wrap those lazy ears of yours around.

I’ll see you after the movie….

Monster Magnet - Space Lord (Boys Noize Remix)

I recently rediscovered Monster Magnet’s classic album ‘God Says No’  and I can’t stop listening to it. It’s just so over the top rock that you simply have to love it. Unashamed cock rock. That lead me to unearth this remix of ‘Space Lord’ taken from their 1998 album ‘Powertrip’.

I should warn you that the track below has gratuitous use of the MF word - more so that Ice Cube on ‘Death Certificate’

The Kills - Midnight Boom

Q:LoFi rock played by a man and woman duo?

A: The White Stripes?

I have a feeling that is all about to change. The Kills released Midnight Boom in mid March, and it’s gonna change everything for them. No Wow, The Kills previous outing was just that, No wow. Midnight Boom is the album we’ve been waiting for - it lives up to the potential we knew existed.

Alison Mossharts vocals are front and centre on this release. While she sounds like Peaches and PJ in parts, her delivery is strong enough to emote sexual tension, angst, pity and loss.

‘Cheap and Cheerful’ has pithy lyrics delivered over a pulsing bassline and for my monet is the flag bearer for the album. Simple catchy rock with punk overtones. ‘Tape song’ starts where ‘Cheap’ lets off, and layers complexity on the bass skeleton. Vocal lines are picked on angular guitar ( I hate me for saying that), but chorus is all fuzz and fury. 

THINK: Peaches of punk, PJof loFi.
READ: Homepage and meh-space
WATCH: Cheap and Cheerful
BUY: Merch & Music