Foxboro Hot Tubs - Stop, Drop and Roll!

The Foxboro Hot Tubs, the next band in the ever increasing line of 1960 revival bands to release a short, hook heavy, harmony laden, straight up rock and roll album. And Foxboro Hot Tubs also follow Radiohead and Niggy Tardust with this self released internet only 6 track EP. But what marks them apart is that it is (was) free - completely, catch free, 100% free.

You might have also read the name over that last number of weeks in any of the music press, because know one knows who Foxboro Hot Tubs are. It’s widely understood that they are these guys. Two listens later, and you’ll hold that truth to be self evident.

So, if you have 17mb of bandwidth left, and you fancy some brand new old fashioned rock and roll, look no further than ‘Stop, Drop and Roll’. The best free thing since those oxford boys changed the music industry for ever. Or not. Is it still a big deal, or have we all moved on?

THINK: The Stooges meet Greenday in 1960
READ: Conjecture and wonder
WATCH: Fan made Hot Tubs vidoes. (why would you?)
LISTEN: Stop, Drop and Roll. (Thank me later)

Duke Special - Songs from the Deep Forest.

So as you may be aware, I returned to Ireland and the UK recently in a bid to introduce my girlfriend to the sprawling gene pool that is my family. (Before you go thinking that I dislike my family in anyway – 73 first cousins on my Da’s side. Nuff said.) While I was there Ciaran, my eldest brother (of 4 boys – My Da was the sensible one) gave me the new Duke Special album ‘Songs from the Deep Forest’. What with me being in Australia and all, I hadn’t heard of him. Despite what, I’ve since learned, has been a huge media response and much critical acclaim. So, I give you Duke Special.

Duke Special (real name Peter Wilson- no anagrams this time) is a pop-rock musician based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Much in the same vein as Badly Drawn Boy, Duke Special is a piano-based singer-songwriter with a distinctly-accented voice. It’s quite refreshing to hear an artist retain their accent.

‘Songs from the Deep Forest’ is an album that has touches of vaudeville and cabaret. Orchestration, brass and reed atmospherics are layered subtly to emphasise the mood of each piece. The mood of the album, while changing from track to track, has an upbeat optimistic quality.

‘Brixton Leaves’ is a perfect example of the assured arrangement through out the album. Reed and string sections punctuate the time changes perfectly with brass sparingly used to ‘last call’ effect. Although it isn’t the strongest track, it serves well to illustrate the qualities of this album. ‘Last night I almost died’ is an upbeat pop-rock song that hooks you immediately and carries you along with a sense that you’re listening to a movie soundtrack, except you’re the star. You’re the star, sweetheart!

THINK: A consistant gimick-free Badly Drawn Boy
READ: Duke Specials homepage or interviews
WATCH: ‘Lastnight..’ or ‘Tainted Love’ feat. Neil Hannon
LISTEN: Get a free EP here
BUY: Songs from the Deep Forest at amazon