The Cribs are an enthusiastic guitar rock band from northern England (Wakefield) made up of 3 brothers’ Jarman.  In ‘08 Johnny Marr (ex The Smiths’ guitarist) joined the band after a ‘tenure’ with Modest Mouse.  And now I love the Cribs even more!

They started in ‘02 and 4 albums later I had the pleasure of hearing their best CD to date – Ignore the Ignorant, out in Fall ‘09. Actually listened to it on the train ride hom….whoops! back up to London, after being at Bestival (Isle of Wight).  It was wonderful to listen to great UK “indie” rock whilst (might as well use full-on ‘english’ here!) watching the english countryside zip by.   Btw, their next best CD is New Fellas (#2) with Men’s Needs… being their 3rd best and probably most ‘commercial’.

They played Toronto Jan 15. And apparantly, The Cribs loved it there.

My gig review here. Interview discussion points are below.

Interview & Band pics here: (unfortunately Marr was absentia from all interviews).

[View with PicLens]

 

During the interview lead singer / guitarist Ryan and I discuss:

- what he considers the most important thing about live shows
- how he acquired the necklace he’s always seen wearing these last few months
- the changing music term ‘indie’
- his impressions of NME magazine calling The Cribs “the biggest cult band in the world”
- their approach to gain bigger audience while dealing with the music biz B.S.
- what they’d be doing if not being The Cribs
- his relationship with girlfriend Kate Nash
- Kate’s present & future plans now that her 2nd CD is officially ready for release
- Ryan and Kate’s shared values, such as the treatment of women in the music industry

But first, we dive right in with a quick discussion wayyy back to 2007 – on a specific gig and Ryan comments about the Southampton Guildhall, UK.

ps. sorry about the bit of background noise. Brothers Gary and Ross were also being interviewed simultaneously in the same room!

More UK Artist Interviews with Tara O. (eg, La Roux, Arctic Monkeys, Florence (and the Machine), Friendly Fires, Elbow, Glasvegas, Paolo Nutini, and more!

The radio show / podcast of the best CDs of 2009 #30-#16 is here.

2009 Picks for the best CDs are selected amongst LPs only (as much as I loved some EPs this year….) AND based on the album’s overall quality — these albums below don’t just have 3 or 4 good songs on them – it’s a solid album that’s worth your download or walk-into-a-store-and-purchase time.

To listen to even more tracks from the artists below, go to 2009 Podcasts and do a search (“Edit”, “Find”) by artist name.

My top 30 CDs for 2008 are here.
——-

#15. Congrats to Canterbury – a group fresh out of the waters of 2009 – for recently celebrating over 10,000 free downloads of their CD. And while it’s gratis don’t think this is some ‘nothing’ CD that a bunch of wankers smashed together for no good reason. This is the type of CD you, we, *I should be out paying $ for… (using the money we *should get back from some of the baddies we *did buy this year!) . But thanks to ferocious competition and marketing these boys have pulled a smart move in ‘09 by offering the 1st one and hopefully hooking us on their next one… We’ll be hearing more from them on the show in new year

Canterbury
CD Thank You (Free CD)
- take me out of the wall

#14. I must’ve played about half this album in ‘09. Feel free to check past podcasts for the tunes from these Glaswegians.

Wake the President
CD You can’t change that boy
- Remember fun?

#13. Sounding a little like Arcade Fire are we? Well, they are sharing the same producer – but seriously, a beautiful album.

The Maccabees
CD Wall of Arms (May release)
- Love you better

#12. Welsh band SFA said this CD is meant to be played at outside venues only…sorry boys ..you’re indoors on the radio today! The CD is Led Zep, Jim Noir, Beach Boys and Thievery Corporation rolled into a summer ball of fun – with a few german lyrics just ta mess wit ur head! It’s prog, it’s art rock, it’s pop …. and it’s good.

Super Furry Animals
CD Dark days light Years
- white socks flip flops

#11. Pop Noise Records is the company that made the intellingent move to get behind Some Beans (AkA Andy Fonda). Thank you Pop Noise for supporting Andy who writes, play, and produces the CD (o you lay z lay z boy!). Almost every track is a pleasure. Think Portishead, Buck 65, Cut Chemist…. If you like this track, you’ll like the others that style between low-fi/ambient/electr/jazz/pop.

Some Beans
CD Fear and loathing in Tipton St. John
- Turning Blue

#10. A highly underrated CD of indie rock. It’s like well thought out twee with a fun twist … and lyrics you really you need to stop and listen to cause there’s actually some meaning in them (go figure)!

Art brut
CD Art brut Vs satan
- am I normal?

#9. Dance punk at its best! A new band from Carlisle, UK. Burn the Negative

Burn the Negative
CD In The Atmosphere (May release)
- she said she said

#8. My review of their CD on their website

The Lightyears
CD London, England (Jan. release)
- I’m not

#7. She redefined 80’s retro music (is that possible? …she re-retrod-retro?). A fun CD but don’t be fooled – there was many years of work gone into the making – hear about this and more in my 2009 interview with La Roux.

La Roux
CD La Roux (June)
- tigerlily

#6. The addition of Johnny Marr only makes this rock band even better than they’d already be with their 4th go around on a CD. Read my full CD review here. Stay tuned for my interview with them in Jan/10.

The Cribs
CD Ignore the ignorant (Sep. release)
- cheat on me

#5. My 2009 interview with Arctic Monkeys (Alex & Jamie). Artistic integrity & evolution was their goal for their 3rd CD and they did achieve it. …. yet in the back of my mind I can’t always help wondering if they reeaally needed to go to the Cali desert & NY to find it – considering all the production talent back home (granted some production was Simian Mobile Disco’s James Ford). Nonetheless a great rock music output that shouldn’t have scared away as many base fans as it did – it’s just that this CD took a few more ‘go-rounds’ before you went ….yeah baby!

Arctic Monkeys
CD Humbug (Aug. release)
- Cornerstone

#4. My 2009 interview with Doves at the U.K. festival “Bestival”. My fav interview of the year??? I almost died from a cold waiting for them but it was worth it! The interview pics alongside the audio will give you the whole crazy fun.

Doves
CD Kingdom of Rust (April release)
- The Greatest Denier

#3. Great scots! …and just like the band in my #1 spot, they were early out of the gates in ‘09 and held the bar high for all that followed. Every song on the CD (but one) is great. Even the slow song Katherine Kiss Me fits well. Do I like this CD better than their changed-the-music-landscape-and-reminded-the-world-where-scotland-was- 2004 debut album? .. hmmmm…..

Franz Ferdinand
CD Tonight: Franz Ferdinand (Jan. release)
- no you girls

#2. My 2009 interview with Florence.I think I played almost every song off this album and some twice over. She’s got a gorgeous, emotive, and powerful voice, well drafted lyrics, songs from the quirky to the serious to the surreal, Flo is an entertainer and a dreamer all wrapped into one. My full album review is here.

Florence and the Machine
CD Lungs
- I’m not calling you a liar

#1. A great CD out from the gates in 2009. Wondered all year if it’d be topped and the answer came back 11 months later. Nope. Well Harry Mcveigh, Jack Lawrence Brown and Charles Cave, all in their early 20s gave us a complete, well rounded, well orchastrated, fabulously lyricized (is that a word?) album – carrying the gamut of emotions. 2010 is supposed to bring more work from these boys. I can hardly wait…though I’ll try (try) to temper expectations… and if they never produce anything better than this, I’ll still be happy for this one. My interview earlier this year with songwriter Charles Cave.

White lies
CD To lose my life (Jan. release)
- Farewell to the Playground

This show is includes CDs #30 – #16..

Next week’s show (Dec 30) will have the best 2009 CDs from #15 – #1.

To listen to even more tracks from the artists below, go to 2009 Podcasts and do a search (“Edit”, “Find”) by artist name.

My top 30 CDs for 2008 are here.

——-

#30. Starting off (or ending off, depending how you look at it!) this year’s list is Victoria Hesketh. In 09 she popularized a new instrument that’s a digital tablet, called the Tenori-on. Her artist name, Little Boots, was given to her by a friend, because she has little feet. While this is the overall best song on the CD (and one I couldnt stop singing for about 3 days straight at one point this year, try as I might…) the CD is great electro dance music, with touches of old Madonna-style — which can get a bit cheezy at times but it’s a total ‘fun’ album you can listen to loud, or throw on a party in the background and everyone’s feet will subconsciously be tapping along… After this song check out her ‘New in Town’.

Little Boots
CD Hands (June release)
- Stuck on Repeat

#29. Liverpudlian’s by birth, but quasi-american in their musical style is #29. In the fall, I wrote a review for ExploreMusic.com. It’s one of the best rock/pop ones to come out in Fall 09.

Hot Melts
CD Hot Melts
- Edith

#28. Another best rock CD out this fall. Scots rock! The review’s here.

The Twilight Sad
CD Forget the Night Ahead
- I became a prostitute

#27. Wimbleton born, singer/songwriter Jamie Treays (Jamie T.). Often compared to Alex Turner (lead, Arctic Monkeys) but I don’t hear it…. apart from the northern accent – but you cld say that about many artists! His CD Kings & Queens came out in Sep, but later in the fall he got laryngitis which forced him to cancel his tour. People in OZ/UK & parts of Europe — you can NOW see him thru Feb. Rejoice!

Jamie T.
CD Kings and Queens (September release)
- earth wind and fire

#26 Editors are finally coming to Canada in 2010! Review of their new CD here. The track I chose below is representative of their overall sound. So if you like-a, then also go buy-a their “Back Room” CD too!

Editors
In this Light and On this Evening
- The Big Exit

#25. Calvin! Dance! Monkey! Dance! Electro dance king Calvin brightened up our clubs (and our livingrooms!) ah-gain this year with a follow-up to last year’s “I created Disco” (think Acceptable in the 80s…). You won’t sit still listening to Calvin. When not busy tweeting the odd rant, this boy’s producing for Dizzee on their Dance wiv me EP and Dizzee’s LP out this year (and also #18 on my list!). As a bonus – a great CD to listen to on my phone when I’m out shoveling snow…keeps me motivated!

Calvin Harris
CD Ready for the Weekend
- The rain

#24 Tricky (and F.L.A.’ers South Rakkas Crew) surprised the crap out of me near year’s end with this remix album of Tricky’s 08 CD “Knowle West Boy” (which itself scored on my list for Top CDs of 2008). I hesitate to say this remix is better than the original! Ah hell, it is. And keep your eyes peeled for Tricky to be back singing with his past group Massive Attack… looks like they’re all back on speaking terms. Hell I guess if Blur could muster it together this year, why not M.A.?

Tricky & South Rakkas Crew
CD Tricky meets South Rakkas Crew Review
- Joseph

#23. To the Lake District we go! And it’s Wild Beasts’ 2nd CD at 23. They received more critical acclaim for their latest oeuvre (to be fancy pants about it) than their 2008 Limbo Panto. While CD2 makes my best of list for 09, they’ve dropped a few spots from last year’s #15. Still enjoying the lead’s falsetto voice though..think it’d be tiring but no…

Wild Beasts
CD Two Dancers (August release)
- empty nest

#22 Esser’s swept up ‘do looks vaguely like a dark haired, male La Roux. This boy from Essex sings of daily life, nothing heavy, but enjoyable.

Esser
CD Bravaface (March release)
- Real Life

#21. This CD demonstrates what you can do creatively with music when you don’t give a shit what people think. Lo n behold it turned out great. A wonderful concoction of sounds and usual instruments (eg vaccum cleaner). Not for the close-minded! Itzzz ex-pair-ree-mental!

Micachu and the Shapes
CD Jewellery (March release)
- calculator

#20. AKA the Noise-ettes. Great voice leading us through the hybrid sounds of Amy Winehouse’s R&B/retro, with electric guitar pop, strings. The CD didn’t do commercially as well as it should’ve..here’s hoping this gets it more recognition.

The Noisettes
CD Wild Young Hearts (May release)
- saturday night

#19. And conversely, speaking of an artist that got *lots of attention this year, it’s Lily. She’s an attention-getter by nature but her witty lyrics and song content just elevate the whole. Now. If you havent heard of this versatile songwriter by now, it’s too late. She announced a couple of weeks ago she’s pulling out of performing for a couple of yrs and will start a start-up label. She can stir up a controversy like very few (think back to this year’s illegal downloading debate between artists) and she’s even better at stirring up a crowd as she did when I saw her at Septembers Bestival in the U.K.

Lily Allen
CD It’s not me it’s you
- everyones at it

#18. ahh the irony of Dizzee rappin in “Road Rage” about going around ‘being a trooper in his mini Cooper” when, I believe his preference is a Bentley! and also… didn’t Madonna write that line back in ‘03 (Hollywood track)? Nonetheless, a great song (beep! beep! comin’ through!!) and an overall great CD. One for the rapper in you! This CD also reminds me of Scotland. Why? because I was there in September when Dizzee’s CD was coming/came out and there were ads for it everywhere and magazine articles galore.

Dizzee Rascal
CD Tongue ‘n Cheek (September release)
- road rage

#17. I first heard of them back in the summer when I got a free download of ‘Tell you So’ and I was hooked. It’s not often in summer I look forward to fall but the release of their album was one reason. Manchester has produced ah-nother great band (what do they feed those kids growing up??) CD favors walls of sound, Stone Roses moments and more.

The Longcut
CD Open Hearts (October release)
- repeated

#16. Winnners of the Glasto ‘08 new talent competition, a band that also started their own label and run a monthly concert series ‘The Bronze club’ in London where fellow artists/musicians perform, and doing an interview interview with me at Bestival (!) has kept #16 pretty busy in 09. This eclectic band sounding of electro pop/funk/dance and more understand the importance of taking career in hand and staying connected to their fans. Lead Gwilym Gold said he wanted to be different, and this CD’s achieved that.

Golden Silvers
CD True Romance (April release)
- True Romance (True #9 Blues)

Stay tuned for Best of 2009, Part 2 of 2! it’s all coming on Dec 30!

—————————-

My radio station (chuo.fm) will be presenting this concert….

http://www.last.fm/event/1293254+La+Roux+at+The+New+Capital+Music+Hall+on+6+February+2010

I’ll interview Ella.  Any questions  you’d like me to ask for the interview?

He asks Flo some great questions and she sings her songs live. what’a'voice.

http://www.kcrw.com/media-player/mediaPlayer2.html?type=audio&id=mb091030florence_and_the_mac

Apart from my usual discussion on new releases, artist news and my Hallowe’en costume this year   …here’s the tracks from today’s show….

Playlist:

Patrick Wolf
CD The bachelor
- Battle

The Cribs
CD Ignore the Ignorant
save your secrets

Detachments
CD out spring 2010
- The Flowers That Fell (single)

Arctic Monkeys
CD Humbug
- Dance Little Liar

The Vals (from Belfast, N.Ireland)
new CD Sticks and Stones
- Yesterday Today

The Longcut
CD Open hearts
- something inside

Editors
CD In This Light And On This Evening
Papillon

Florence Welch (from Florence and the Machine) – Interview Excerpt

Florence and the Machine
CD Lungs
- you’ve got the love

Big Pink
CD A Brief History of Love
- Velvet

Fuck Buttons
New CD Tarot Sport
- Rough Steez

Wave Machines
CD Wave If you’re Really There
Keep The Lights On

Basement Jaxx
CD Scars
- a possibility

Burn the Negative
CD In the atmosphere
- camden

The Setlist is here.   You’ll find further links at the bottom of this post.

Florence is known for being rather shy, so I was fortunate to have a 15min ‘long’ discussion and where she was so frank on the topics discussed.

She is young, very successful in the UK (2009 Mercury Prize nomination, #1 Itunes chart, #2 UK album chart (missed #1 due to the re-issue of MJ’s album). I had so many things I wanted to ask her about (could’ve talked for an hour).  I try to give a better flavour of who ‘the woman behind the passionate music’ is.   Hope I suceeded somewhat… Enjoy!

In the interview we discuss:

-  Florence & the Machine at Bestival 2009
-  her introversion and playing to live crowds (at Reading & BBC e-Proms)
-  her goals when performing on stage
-  her altercation with the ghost in her NYC hotel room a few nights prior (seriously!)
-  her sleep issues & her openess about them
-  what her family thinks of her projects
-  things in life (other than music) that are important to Florence & how she perceives the world
-  Manchester’s annual music convention “In the City”. Specifically, a panel discussion on the Feature Artist Coalition (FAC) (whose goal is to put artists in the driver’s seat of their career/music in the digital age). She discusses her digital career situation and views on technology (eg, Twitter, …).
- CD Lungs track, ‘Girl with One Eye‘ (eg, the 1st time she sang it, why & how she picked it, the song meaning)
- and we end (accidently!) with a joke!

Additional Links (some referenced in interview):

Florence Pics,Vid,Review at BESTIVAL 2009
Tara O’s review of ‘Lungs’ on ExploreMusic.com
Youtube Florence Vid at Bestival 2009
Florence’s Sold-out Toronto Nov 2 Gig Review

More UK Artist Interviews with Tara O. (eg, La Roux, Arctic Monkeys, Florence (and the Machine), Friendly Fires, Elbow, Glasvegas, Paolo Nutini, and more!

Doves’ MySpace

This is up there as one of my fav interviews – it’s FIF (fun & informative & flows naturally). Ok I just made that term up but that’s what it was!!

While ‘officially’ the interview in their dressing room is with guitarist Jez Williams (half of the Williams brothers in the band), at times Andy Williams pops in to the room and answers questions (and changing his clothes!), while lead Jimi Goodwin does special appearances – chatting & eventually opening a beer bottle cause Jez cant find the opener after trying the trick (albeit unsuccessfully) to open the bottle using top of another one. Check the pics for all the antics.. . It was quite the busy place, that dressing room…

I should have known it instinctively — but it really was Elbow’s Pete Turner during our recent Elbow interview who confirmed Doves like to have a good time, and actually end up having an even *better time when their Manc buddies Elbow are also around – as was the case at Bestival.

While the interview was going on, Elbow were still down at the stage, prepping to go on soon, but already Doves were back on the Artists compound, maxin out relaxin’. With the fun they were having in front of me already, I could only imagine how it was going to be once Elbow finished their set a couple of hrs later…. ohh to have seen them all in action!!

It was a pretty long interview (thank you Jez,Andy,Jimi). Some of what we discussed is:
- how one Glasto almost ended Doves, and their fav Glasto
- what it’s like to be back out on the festival circuit after 3yrs
- what John Peel thought of Doves
- how Doves can be viewed by North Americans
- Andy’s wedding vows
- what he thinks of their music & how “Some Cities” differs from the other CDs
- their Canadian visits and his fav Canadian city
- Electric Proms in October live gig with Bulgarian Choir for BBC (Performance (not viewable in Canada). BBC Review)
- Jimi, Andy and Jez each going off and doing their own thing before CD 5
- And their views of the changing landscape of music
Note: there’s swearing (in case that’s a problem!).

More on “Bestival 2009″: Tara O’s Review/Pics/Vids/Interviews

More Artist Interviews with Tara O.

Doves Vids & Pics:

From Doves (Bestival 2009 Show & Tara O. Interview Pics, Video)

Jack Penate
CD Everything is new
- So Near

Florence and the Machine
CD Lungs
- howl

The Rakes
CD Klang
- Muller’s Ratchet

Burn the Negative
CD In the Atmosphere (out Sep14)
- Wonder Why

The Cribs
CD Ignore the ignorant
- city of bugs

Zero 7
CD Yeah ghost
- sleeper

Doves interview – Excerpt