THE FRIDAY FIVE – 28.10.2011

1. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – AKA …. What A Life
2. Florence and the Machine – Shake It Out
3. Ting Tings – Hang It Up
4. Manic Street Preachers – This Is The Day
5. The Pierces – Kissing You Goodbye

And now, the traditional chart based on the previous week’s theme in X-Factor.

Last week was the always comical “Rock Week”, where the performers dress and sing based on how marketing men view Rock music.

It was quite apt that the first performer should cover Lenny Kravitz, the most fake poser in Rock music.

Anyway, he’s five rock songs for you to enjoy. One of these songs might be a pisstake, but it has Rock in the title, which is good enough for me.

FIVE ROCK SONGS

1. Falco – Rock Me Amadeus
2. Biffy Clyro – The Captain
3. Led Zeppelin – Kashmir
4. Queen – Innuendo
5. Status Quo – Down Down

THE FRIDAY FIVE – 21.10.2011

1. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – AKA …… What A Life
2. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – I Wanna Live In A Dream
3. Florence and the Machine – Shake It Out
4. Manic Street Preachers – This Is The Day
5. Miles Kane – Come Closer

Now, during X-Factor, i’m planning to do a Friday Five based on the theme of the previous week. Last week’s theme was “Love and Heartbreak”

Is it me, or are they being incredibly lazy when deciding these themes.

Anyway, behold, five love songs, and five heartbreak songs. Remember, not a definitive list, just suggested listening.

FIVE LOVE SONGS

1. Tatu – All The Things She Said
2. Alison Krauss – When You Say Nothing At All
3. Donna Lewis – I Love You Always Forever
4. Steve Winwood – Higher Love
5. Tracey Ullman – They Don’t Know

FIVE HEARTBREAK SONGS

1. Nelly Furtado – All Good Things
2. Bonnie Tyler – Total Eclipse Of The Heart
3. London Boys – Requiem
4. Sophie Ellis Bextor – Heartbreak Make Me A Dancer
5. Climie Fisher – Love Changes Everything

As this week saw the Stone Roses reform, thought i’d just remind people that their members have been churning out amazing songs since 1996

FIVE STONE ROSES ASSOCIATED ACTS SONGS

1. Ian Brown – My Star
2. The Seahorses – You Can Talk to Me
3. Ian Brown – Stellify
4. Primal Scream – Country Girl
5. The Seahorses – Love Is The Law

THE FRIDAY FIVE – 14.10.2011

1. Noah and the Whale – L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N
2. Florence and the Machine – Shake It Out
3. Kasabian – Days Are Forgotten
4. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – AKA ….. What A Life
5. Noah and the Whale – 5 Years Time

FIVE OASIS SONGS

Seeing as Monday marks the release of Noel Gallagher’s long awaited (well, by me at least) solo album. To commemorate, five Oasis songs for you to check out if you haven’t already.

1. Don’t Go Away
2. She Is Love
3. The Hindu Times
4. Where Did It All Go Wrong?
5. Angel Child

I would have posted this last week, but X-Factor’s press team were useless in announcing the theme for last Saturday’s show, so i’m doing my take on the theme’s a week behind. Last week,it was UK or US acts, so i’m going to post five songs by acts from each country for you to check out.

FIVE SONGS BY UK ACTS

1. Cast – Finetime
2. Embrace – You’re not Alone
3. Little Boots – Every Little Earthquake
4. Aztec Camara ft Mick Jones – Good Morning Britain
5. Dead 60s – Stand Up

FIVE SONGS BY US ACTS

1. Tom Petty – Freefalling
2. Flaming Lips – Fight Test
3. Vanessa Carlton – Ordinary Day
4. Harvey Danger – Flagpole Sitta
5. Gigolo Aunts – Where I Find My Heaven

SOME UPCOMING BLOGGING

Seeing as the nights are getting colder and darker, that can only mean one thing, the end (of 2011) is nigh.

Admittedly, it’s almost two and a half months away, but there’s no harm in being ready.

In 2011, like in 2010, I shall be blogging a look back at the year in photos on a month by month basis, as well as doing my Top 100 songs of the year.

I’ve flicked through the calendar on got my dates sorted, with both series reaching their conclusions on Thursday 22nd December.

To view 2010 In Pictures or The Sound of 2010, just click on the links.

The Half-Term Half Century and The Sound Of …… blogposts may give you an idea as to what is on it.

2011 IN PICTURES

January : 30th November

February : 2nd December

March : 4th December

April : 6th December

May : 8th December

June : 10th December

July : 12th December

August : 14th December

September : 16th December

October : 18th December

November : 20th December

December : 22nd December

THE SOUND OF 2011

81-100 : November 24th

61-80 : December 1st

41-60 : December 8th

21-40 : December 15th

1-20 : December 22nd

NOAH AND THE WHALE – LIVE AT ULSTER HALL 9.10.2011

Noah and the Whale are a band i’ve been loving loads this year, since hearing ‘L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N’ and follow-up singles ‘Tonight’s the Kind Of Night’ and ‘Life Is Life’

In fact, i’ve been loving them since they released ‘5 Years Time’ in 2008, which I associate with watching the Olympics on TV in a hotel at Gatwick Airport.

As soon as I heard they were coming to Belfast, I just had to be at this.

The show was so popular, it was moved from it’s original venue of Mandela Hall to Ulster Hall.

The support act were rather good, a Canadian band fronted by a man looking like Chris Issak while dressed as Roddy Frame in the ‘Somewhere In My Heart’ video, but ignore that, they were rather good, though I didn’t catch their name.

NATW came on and were fantastic from start to finish, energetically jumping between instruments as the song demanded.

Sharp suited, lead singer Charlie Fink showed all the qualities of a business manager on a session by removing various items of clothing in stages.

First, came his jacket, then his tie, then his waistcoat. By the end, he was a shirt button light and his sleeves rolled up. Thankfully, that was as far as it went.

Hightlight of the night was the anthemic ‘L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N’

Photo Album

 

 

COLERAINE 1-3 LINFIELD 8.10.2011

Was at Coleraine today for the Irish League clash between Coleraine and Linfield.

Coleraine is one of my more favourite grounds to visit, especially when Linfield are winning, which is quite usual these days, although unfortunately it seems to be reversed at Windsor Park.

Was running late and missed Linfield’s first goal, but got into a good position for photos.

Nothing special unfortunately, but enjoy.

Photo Album

THE FRIDAY FIVE – 7.10.2011

1. Kasabian – Days Are Forgotten
2. Amanda Ghost – Wondrous Place
3. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – AKA ……. What A Life
4. Noah and the Whale – L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N
5. Ed Sheeran – The A Team

FIVE JOHN LENNON SONGS

Since this would have been his birthday this week, five solo songs worth listening to.

1. Just Like Starting Over
2. Nobody Told Me
3. Stand By Me
4. Instant Karma
5. Merry Xmas (War Is Over)