Howdy.

It's been some time since I updated on the whole 'what I'm listening to' thingy. It's possible that you all think that's a good thing but anyway... Bottom line is the second half of 2009 is really f'ing kicking ass when it comes to albums - or a least when it comes to the kind of stuff I'm into (and even some stuff I'm not (I'm LOVING that Jay Z/Alicia Keyes thing.) Some really good rock bands/artists are releasing some very good albums and some are preparing to do so, with a number of definite purchases on the way. Where to start...

Okay, I might as well get it out of the way. Everyone knows I go into total fanboy mode when it comes to John Mayer. He tweeted his new single into existence today. It's called 'Who Says' and it's taken from the upcoming album Battle Studies (November 17th!) The song opens with the line "Who say I can't get stoned?" which is daring enough for a guy that mainstream America has turned into a household name. Anyway, it's a gorgeous thing, and you don't have to be a fanboy to see that. Go listen to it at johnmayer.com (if it's working - traffic has been at such a high volume that the site has crashed numerous times today)

I've had my first listen (actually I'm up to two and a bit listens now) to the new Paramore album. Paramore are a band that have been steadily proving they're more than just an outlet for teenage girls with dyed hair and a hoody - and with 'Brand New Eyes' they've surely proven they're more relevant (and mature) than people give them credit for. Sure, this is not a gargantuan step away from familiar territory but it does showcase the quintet's growing maturity. Lead singer Hayley Williams is still only 20 years old but is, for my money, as good a frontman...eh no, hang on....frontwoman...what IS the word? as you're likely to see and delivers some of her finest lyrical works on this album. The tracks 'The Only Exception', 'Misguided Ghosts' and 'All I Wanted' have been on loop for most of the day on my stereo. You can listen to them at the band's myspace page here http://www.myspace.com/paramore

While we're on the subject of female-fronted groups, another of the finer examples is Flyleaf. They're about to release their second album Memento Mori (it's Latin for "be mindful of death") and if it's anything like their self titled debut, then we're in for a treat. Flyleaf have an interesting history. The short version is lead singer Lacey Mosley goes from violent, drug using suicidal aetheist teenager to devout christian twenty-something (twenty-eight at the mo) and forms a band which eventually beocmes Flyleaf and the rest, as they say, is...
Their best known song is probably one called 'Cassie', which was inspired by Cassie Bernall - a victim of the 1999 Columbine school massacre. It was claimed the student was asked by one of the gunmen if she believed in God, and when she answered yes, he shot her. This has since been disputed and largely disproven but the song is no less powerful because of it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5X0c.... Anyhoo...fast forward to 2009, and 'Again' is the first single from the new disc. Well worth a listen for Mosley's vocals, which I believe to among the best when it comes to rock girly types

Three Days Grace from Canada are a band I've liked from day one. Plenty of ballsy riffage and hooks that stay in your head for days add up to produce a winning combination. Yes, they're styled. Yes they're probably a bit too pretty but that doesn't matter in my book (or blog.) Their self titled debut was good, their follow up One-X was even better, and album number three - 'Life Starts Now' - promises to be no let-down. 'Break' is the first single, and is in the flashbox.

If you like what you hear in Three Days Grace, then say hello to Breaking Benjamin. All of the above can also be said of this band from Pennsylvania. Their new single 'I Will Not Bow' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFHN0... features in the new Bruc

Greetings.

Since it's Saturday and it's raining out and I've nothing to do, it's blog time. This will most likely be the last mention of Oxegen from me on here so here we go...my take on the weekend.
My fourth Oxegen festival kicked off with an introduction to the green campsite, where people who have the money to do so, spend big for fully weatherproof accommodation like tipis, podpads, beach huts etc. and if you have an extra 900 quid to spare on top of your weekend ticket, then it's a recommended splurge.
Next, to the VIP/Media area. It has become one of my favourite places to hang out. It has tarmac, places with ceilings, food, a bar, celebrities by the dozen and, most importantly, proper toilet facilities.
The campsites were already filling up on Thursday evening, so we went to talk to some of the thousands. Maybe I shouldn't have been surprised, but trying to find sober people who could be trusted to not swear into a microphone, even at that early stage of the weekend, turned out to be every bit as patience-testing as explaining to a security guard that "I've been through this gate twice already today." That's another story.

An early start Friday and, the first show over with, more ramblings around the campsites to chat to the (in my estimation, younger than ever) Oxegen crowd. Then, it's all about the music...
First up, just like last year, was God Is An Astronaut in the Heineken Green Spheres tent and, just like last year, the Irish post-rock instrumental trio didn't disapppoint. Their full-on audio/visual assault on the senses is something that I wish more people would experience. Next, it was to a packed Hot Press New Bands stage for Carolina Liar whose arrival on stage was greeted by such a noise that it was hard to believe these guys have only had one hit, and that this was their first gig outside of America. Their performance of the aforementioned hit - Show Me What I'm Looking For - became an early contender for highlight of the weekend.
After a brief return to the studio, where I was delighted to get the chance to interview Cormac Neeson, the lead singer from Irish rock band The Answer, who have been supporting AC/DC on their world tour, it was back out to the arena - this time for Lily Allen who everyone else seemed to enjoy but, whisper it, left me rather cold. Sorry, I just don't get it. The techno edged end to It's Not Fair was okay but I can't imagine why anyone would pay to see her live.
After a bit of a wander and having quickly by-passed The Script whose songs could all be called "Guy Gets Dumped And Wants You To Know It" it was time for Beardyman in the Bacardi Live tent. This guy is, excuse my language, fucking insane! His beatboxing is out of this world but this was more a DJ set...with a difference. Most of what you hear is Beardyman sounds sampled and looped to make versions of well known dance tunes. Hearing New Order's Blue Monday made entirley from vocal sounds is as great as you imagine. It was all a bit fast though - somewhere in the region of 150bpm and this attracted a sizeable number of no-top, tracksuit-bottom, gold-chain, shaved-head, no-sense-of-other-people's-space, eating their own jaws 19 to 21 year old males. Exit.
Then, a walk to the Red Bull Academy tent to await Ladyhawke. Cue announcement; "Ladyhawke is unable to perform due to illness. There will follow a DJ set by Johnny Moy." No thanks. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise because it meant a return (via the O2 stage where Fun Lovin' Criminals were belting out some very good but all too familiar tunes) to the Main Stage for Snow Patrol. Having never counted myself a fan and having been, in truth, fairly passive about their material, I was just about willing to give them a go. WOW. Their set turned out to be THE best of the weekend. To be honest, they kinda blew me away. Gary Lightbody's crowd skills are top notch - never more evident than

Greetings!

So here's today's mini-blog. Basically, it's a collection of thoughts and links that mostly ended up as tweets in the last 24 hours.

First of all, I spent most of today catching up on sleep after much midweek/Champions League Final shenanigans and galavanting. Question; Why does it always seem to be that the days I spend catching up on sleep are always the sunniest ones...

I spent the last while listening to Chasing Cars on loop. Like, ACTUALLY LISTENING. Not just hearing it in the background 10 times a day. It's a really, really great song.

I came across this most excellent news today... http://tinyurl.com/oa89o9

90210 chicks are hotter than The Hills chicks. And that is FACT Darren Rice!

Decisions... http://tinyurl.com/me2zq2. If we weren't in a recession, I wouldn't think twice!

Finally, I'm really glad they've stopped making Prison Break.

VB