Is it over yet? Can we now stop talking about lists, top tens, Santa, new year’s resolutions and all the other guff that’s been going on elsewhere over the last fortnight? I did the sensible thing and left the country, so am blissfully ignorant of anything that’s happened recently. I’ve no idea what your album of 2009 was, and I also don’t care – new stuff beckons. Today, that comes in the slightly jerky shape of these recent videos released into the wild by Adam Green, Blood Red Shoes, The Rural Alberta Advantage, Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson (pictured) and Tindersticks. Oh, and a video re-posted by SXSW to promote our previous Album Of The Week-ers Turbo Fruits upcoming Austin show that just deserves mentioning because… well, just because I feel like it.
Adam Green – Buddy Bradley
It’s been a while since Adam Green popped up with an album proper, way back in March of 2008. So if your anti-folk tastebuds haven’t been whetted enough by Jeff Lewis during 2009, Green’s back with two videos from the new album, that’s due out next Mon 11th Jan, and to accompany the whole hipster shindig, here’s one of four videos that have been done for it (two released so far), for “Buddy Bradley”. It’s one part rollick, one part lackadaisic, and the video’s suitably non-directed. Tatty shoes, far-off gaze, tight jeans, acerbic lyrics all over your face… you know the score by now.
Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson – The Sound
I really like this guy, despite myself. I think it’s the earnest rock thing going on the background, only just drowned out by the Brooklyn cool, the puppy enthusiasm and the swagger that only youth can bring to this sort of tune. I really like his voice though, all Bowie and Neil Young all at the same time. Not going to get his name tattooed on my arm or anything – my arms aren’t that long for one thing – but you can tick me off as a bit of a fan, I reckon.
The Rural Alberta Advantage – Drain The Blood
I’ll happily confess my ignorance on this Canadian outfit, but since they’re signed to the usually-reliable Saddle Creek, and this video’s a little gem, I’ll be exploring these hills for the next little while, I reckon. It’s a bit ragged, a bit upset but a bit hacked off, and all sorts of glorious, really. One of those bands you’ll be happy you crossed paths with. Unless of course, you already have, and I’m the last one to do so, which is fairly likely. In which case, you’ve all made fine choices. Well done.
Blood Red Shoes – Colours Fade
Blimey, BRS seem to be developing musical muscles in all sorts of places, and this (also available as a free mp3, folks), bodes well for the upcoming long-player that’s due out this year. For the elderly amongst you, in parts they sound to me uncannily like my old Edinburgh faves Annie Christian.
Tindersticks – Falling Down A Mountain (Trailer)
Can’t find a full version of this anywhere, with this instead being a short and unnervingly Guy Ritchie-esque trailer for the tune and the new album, due later this month.
Turbo Fruits – Naked With You
Turbo Fruits are playing SXSW this year, and as part of SXSW’s ongoing plan of shouting about bands they like ahead of the event, this week sees the dirty, groovy, Redd-Kross-vs-Dinosaur-Jr fuzzpop of “Naked With You” get another airing, as it plainly deserves. It might be possible that I’ll be at this show in March. Possibly.