30 Years On: Kate Bush – The Dreaming
Released in 1982 to a baffled public and laudatory (if similarly bewildered) critics, The Dreaming was the first album where Kate Bush took sole credit for production. She had assisted Andrew Powell on Lionheart (1978) and co-produced Never For Ever (1980) with Jon Kelly. The latter work proved to be pivotal. During the sessions she discovered the Fairlight CMI, a sampling synthesizer very much in its infancy having been created in 1979. She was introduced to the machine, along with the rhythm box, by Peter Gabriel, while recording backing vocals for his third eponymous album (also known as Melt). (more…)
Jack White: The Wanderer
A vast majority of musicians are defined by the bands through which they make their name. For most, these bands either provide a platform from which to forge a career, or a burdensome shadow from which they can never escape. To certain audiences, Paul Weller has never quite vacated the legacy of The Jam, Morrissey will still only ever be the lead singer of The Smiths, and even Paul McCartney’s Wings were never given full approval due to the small matter of The Beatles. In fact, it is only the rarely gifted artists of the ilk of the Wellers, Morrisseys, McCartneys, Lennons and Harrisons who can shift from one huge band to another form of artistry with continued artistic credibility and relative commercial success. It is the inherent difficulty of such a task that makes Jack White loom large over the contemporary field of rock musicians; to date he was the driving force behind The White Stripes, a member of The Raconteurs and The Dead Weather, and is now currently Jack White, the solo artist, following the release of Blunderbuss, his debut solo album. (more…)
Alex Turner: Modern Genius Or Charlatan?
Alex Turner is 26 years old. This seems impossibly young for a man who first appeared on the wider music scene in late 2005, as the hype surrounding the release of Arctic Monkeys debut album Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not reached impossibly unrealistic levels for expectation to be met. As with most ‘overnight sensations’, the night in question was, in reality, a lengthy period of foundation laying, honing of skills and word of mouth. The band were performing and recording as early as 2003, which means that Turner, the songwriter, was actively writing the songs that constituted that record breaking debut album between the ages of 17 and 19. (more…)
The Smiths: 25 Years On
In the summer of 1987 The Smiths, the most important and relevant British group of the 1980s, disbanded after guitarist Johnny Marr walked away from a group fractured by in-fighting, paranoia and jealousy. Foolishly, Morrissey, the bands enigmatic, problematic lead singer, attempted to replace Marr, his song-writing partner and one time dearest friend, but soon realised that The Smiths were already a sunken ship. The summer of 2012 marks the passing of twenty five years since the band’s split. Twenty five years is a long time in any walk of life, but in the fickle, ever-changing world of the music industry, it is an eternity. Despite this, though, the songs, and legacy, of The Smiths are as dynamic and important now as they have ever been. (more…)
The King Blues Split
Yesterday via a statement made on their website’s blog, The King Blues announced that they were splitting up.
King Charles talks glam-folk
He’s got a hairstyle reminiscent of a pantomime dame and a much-anticipated album called LoveBlood, which is out in March. He is, of course, King Charles. Following the dispersion of Adventure Playground he’s achieved the accolade of being the first Brit to win the International Songwriting Competition in Nashville. VultureHound caught up with him to chat about his music and inimitable fashion sense. (more…)
Alternative Valentines Day Songs
Walk With Me In Hell by Lamb of God
Because Love is… for better and FOR WORSE!! (more…)
X-Press 2 Q&A
X-Press 2 are a DJ duo who shot to fame in the early 90s after releasing smash hit ‘Lazy’, featuring vocals from Talking Heads front man David Byrne. Like so many others, they quickly faded away from the mainstream. But they’ve maintained a large audience ever since and have now released their third album. So we caught up with DJ Diesel (Darren House) and DJ Rocky (Darren Rock) to chat about their latest offering.
Vulture Hound’s Songs of the Year 2011 (Videos)
We’ve already given you our albums of the year (here) – now the editor David Garlick and writers Lee Hazell and Rob Simpson give their songs of 2011. We’ve even included a video for each so you decide for yourself. (more…)
Vulture Hound’s Albums of The Year 2011
It’s that time of the year where you MUST have a list. For our first list we take a look back and choose our favourite Albums of the Year. Agree or disagree? Click on the album cover to listen to each album on Spotify.
A Brief History of The Stone Roses
So, it finally happened. After 15 years apart, and almost the same length of time devoted to ‘Will they, won’t they?’ debates, The Stone Roses finally announced their reformation. All four members appeared at a press conference on Tuesday to announce headline shows at Headon Park in 2012, a tour and even a new album. (more…)
Q&A With Singer-Songwriter Laura Warshauer
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Singer songwriter LAURA WARSHAUER launched her full-length album The Pink Chariot Mixtape on June 14th, 2011 on Pink Chariot Music. This led to her last single ‘To Will and Kate’ which is one of the four songs produced by Thom Panunzio. Laura recently received the first ever Buddy Holly Singer/Songwriter of the Year Award from the Songwriter’s Hall Of Fame and Songmasters. Exclusive interviews and archived footage from Laura’s most recent series of recording sessions was filmed by Michael Lynn (Producer of E! True Hollywood Story). She is collaborating with big names such as Roy Bittan (E Street Band) who played keyboards on 3 songs and Kenny Aronoff (John Fogerty, Smashing Pumpkins, John Mellencamp) who played percussion on “Little Lost Girls”. Laura is receiving great reviews from magazines and sites such as Mashable, Pop Culture Madness and The Comet, among others. Jay Z also commented “You are fantastically talented” which undeniably shows the wide audience that she manages to get on her side. (more…)
R.E.M. Split – Top 10 Songs
R.E.M.’s brief, but sudden, split announcement on their website was a strange moment in my life. Formed in early 1980, R.E.M. were the only band that I love that had existed (and had stayed together) since the day I was born. I first became aware of R.E.M. in the early 90s. A friend owned Automatic For The People and told me how good it was. After listening to it, I had to agree. Released in 1992, it was the first rock album that I became a fan of, and coupled with the birth of Britpop in 1994, it steered me from an embarrassing life of listening to terrible ‘happy hardcore’ dance music. (more…)
Why The Early Beatles Albums Are Under-Rated
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Chances are, if you ask anyone to name their favorite Beatles album they will probably reply with almost any album from 1965 on. Every single album afterHelp! was drastically different in its approach and sound. Rubber Soul andRevolver showed a “grown-up” version of the band ready to move beyond songs about love. Sergeant Pepper re-wrote the rules about what an album could be, and for better or worse made rock and form into a viable form of art.The White Album was a stark contrast to the Pepper’s excess as The Beatles embracing every genre under the sun. Abbey Road was a culmination of their entire career – it was an adult album, but the entire second half was a nod to their early pop days. (more…)
