Comments on: Random Bits of News http://songbytoad.com/2008/09/random-bits-of-news/ Independent and alternative music in Scotland - with a shitload of gin. Sun, 21 Mar 2010 21:45:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Matthew http://songbytoad.com/2008/09/random-bits-of-news/#comment-7574 Matthew Sun, 14 Sep 2008 15:35:02 +0000 http://songbytoad.wordpress.com/?p=2391#comment-7574 You've been listening to music with fucking cauliflower in your ears again, haven't you. You’ve been listening to music with fucking cauliflower in your ears again, haven’t you.

]]> By: Dylan http://songbytoad.com/2008/09/random-bits-of-news/#comment-7573 Dylan Fri, 12 Sep 2008 23:42:40 +0000 http://songbytoad.wordpress.com/?p=2391#comment-7573 Okay. Elbow. No, not really. Not for me, unfortunately. They've never done anything to grab my attention up until now; but following all this Mercury-related hullaballoo I've made an extra special effort to have a listen and, regrettably, I've found them as dull as dishwater. They're constipated and the singer's got a mouthful of marshmallows. I feel sure I will live a long, happy and rich life if I never hear from them again. Sorry. Okay. Elbow.

No, not really. Not for me, unfortunately.

They’ve never done anything to grab my attention up until now; but following all this Mercury-related hullaballoo I’ve made an extra special effort to have a listen and, regrettably, I’ve found them as dull as dishwater.

They’re constipated and the singer’s got a mouthful of marshmallows.

I feel sure I will live a long, happy and rich life if I never hear from them again.

Sorry.

]]> By: Matthew http://songbytoad.com/2008/09/random-bits-of-news/#comment-7572 Matthew Fri, 12 Sep 2008 19:59:41 +0000 http://songbytoad.wordpress.com/?p=2391#comment-7572 No. Twee music is virtually faux-naif, isn't it? I don't know, but maybe that's how I might put it. No.

Twee music is virtually faux-naif, isn’t it? I don’t know, but maybe that’s how I might put it.

]]> By: Dylan http://songbytoad.com/2008/09/random-bits-of-news/#comment-7571 Dylan Fri, 12 Sep 2008 17:53:25 +0000 http://songbytoad.wordpress.com/?p=2391#comment-7571 I'm clever <i>and</i> cute. Does that make me twee? I’m clever and cute.

Does that make me twee?

]]> By: Drunk Country http://songbytoad.com/2008/09/random-bits-of-news/#comment-7570 Drunk Country Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:56:12 +0000 http://songbytoad.wordpress.com/?p=2391#comment-7570 Yes, Toad. Exactamundo. Twee, as such, doesn't exist these days outside of a catch-all to describe anyone who's a bit clever-cute. Yes, Toad. Exactamundo. Twee, as such, doesn’t exist these days outside of a catch-all to describe anyone who’s a bit clever-cute.

]]> By: Matthew http://songbytoad.com/2008/09/random-bits-of-news/#comment-7569 Matthew Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:03:24 +0000 http://songbytoad.wordpress.com/?p=2391#comment-7569 Does twee not tend to get used as shorthand for intentionally and slightly archly cutesy these days? That's what springs to my mind anyway, although that may be a perversion of the original meaning. Does twee not tend to get used as shorthand for intentionally and slightly archly cutesy these days? That’s what springs to my mind anyway, although that may be a perversion of the original meaning.

]]> By: Drunk Country http://songbytoad.com/2008/09/random-bits-of-news/#comment-7568 Drunk Country Fri, 12 Sep 2008 10:32:12 +0000 http://songbytoad.wordpress.com/?p=2391#comment-7568 Gav, I can't stand her voice on record (or his shout/sing delivery, for that matter). Or at least what the knob twiddler has done to highlight her lack of singing ability. & I don't believe shit singing = twee. Shit singing has always been a factor of lo-fi or DIY <i>long</i> before 'twee'* was first coined to lump together a group of bands who had little in common other than the fact they could hardly play their instruments. Belle & Sebastian never really fitted this category - they are 'twee' only in that they have a sugary/spring time/boy-girl/call & response/accent-heavy enunciation music dynamic. As for the production - there's no bass. It's weedy & thin & wet. There are tunes there (only almost, in some cases) that keep me interested but I can't say it's a 2nd album I'd rush to buy. *It's a difficult genre to pigeon hole, really. You have lyrical content that defines 'tweeness' (childish or childlike referencing & reminiscing or wordy/pesudo intellectual 'i understand the shelving system in libraries' wordery), types of instruments used (glocks, ukes, penny whistles or recorders, mini accordian squeeze boxes, casio keyboards, pretty much anything not out of place on Play School), singing voice (heavily affected vocals), clothing/aesthetic (a collision of mummy & daddy wardrobe dress up with Claire Grogan 1980 insensibilities). Gav, I can’t stand her voice on record (or his shout/sing delivery, for that matter). Or at least what the knob twiddler has done to highlight her lack of singing ability. & I don’t believe shit singing = twee. Shit singing has always been a factor of lo-fi or DIY long before ‘twee’* was first coined to lump together a group of bands who had little in common other than the fact they could hardly play their instruments. Belle & Sebastian never really fitted this category – they are ‘twee’ only in that they have a sugary/spring time/boy-girl/call & response/accent-heavy enunciation music dynamic.

As for the production – there’s no bass. It’s weedy & thin & wet.

There are tunes there (only almost, in some cases) that keep me interested but I can’t say it’s a 2nd album I’d rush to buy.

*It’s a difficult genre to pigeon hole, really. You have lyrical content that defines ‘tweeness’ (childish or childlike referencing & reminiscing or wordy/pesudo intellectual ‘i understand the shelving system in libraries’ wordery), types of instruments used (glocks, ukes, penny whistles or recorders, mini accordian squeeze boxes, casio keyboards, pretty much anything not out of place on Play School), singing voice (heavily affected vocals), clothing/aesthetic (a collision of mummy & daddy wardrobe dress up with Claire Grogan 1980 insensibilities).

]]> By: sean http://songbytoad.com/2008/09/random-bits-of-news/#comment-7567 sean Thu, 11 Sep 2008 16:16:43 +0000 http://songbytoad.wordpress.com/?p=2391#comment-7567 I've ranted about Mercury myself, but I was also quite happy to hear Elbow won. I’ve ranted about Mercury myself, but I was also quite happy to hear Elbow won.

]]> By: Dylan http://songbytoad.com/2008/09/random-bits-of-news/#comment-7566 Dylan Thu, 11 Sep 2008 13:51:38 +0000 http://songbytoad.wordpress.com/?p=2391#comment-7566 These are three fucking excellent songs. Is no-one going to bite on the World Cup thing? Bugger. These are three fucking excellent songs.

Is no-one going to bite on the World Cup thing? Bugger.

]]> By: Euan http://songbytoad.com/2008/09/random-bits-of-news/#comment-7565 Euan Thu, 11 Sep 2008 12:39:51 +0000 http://songbytoad.wordpress.com/?p=2391#comment-7565 I just want to say - that Withered Hand song is great and gets better with every listen. Is that the one eagleowl covered at their ep launch? lovely stuff. I just want to say – that Withered Hand song is great and gets better with every listen. Is that the one eagleowl covered at their ep launch? lovely stuff.

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