Director John Hughes sadly died of a heart attack on Thursday aged ’59. You may remember him for introducing Macaulay Culkin, the spoilt blond kid who divorced his parents. Personally, I thank him for ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’ which is my go-to-movie whenever I’m feeling under the weather (most recently a few weeks back with pork sniffles).Regardless, [...]
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Don’t You Forget About Hughes
Modest Mouse release Heath Ledger directed video
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Modest Mouse’s decision to release a video for their track ‘King Rat‘ may look weird considering the track was originally the b-side for 2007 single ‘Dashboard‘.Think again, the video was directed by Academy Award Winning Joker and sadly departed actor Heath Ledger. Besides, the video is not only visually stunning but highlights Ledger’s concerns over [...]
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Sunday Best Party Tonight!
If you are in London tonight and stuck for something to do check out Sunday Best Party at Camden’s Proud Galleries.Proud is already one of my favourite London venues and this lineup featuring sets from Rob Da Bank, Bastila, Mr Hudson, Micachu is really worth checking out.TRACK:Bastila – Ghosts (The Time And Space Machine Summer [...]
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The Third Degree reinterpret Duffy megahit
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The whole Duffy thing went relatively unnoticed in my life so that even though I am aware of who the Welsh songstress is and could probably pick her out of a police line up I can’t say I know too much about her music. Despite this even I could not steer clear of her omnipresent [...]
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Thom Stone is a mysterious man
Thom Stone is mysterious man:His official website and myspace are (deliberately?) vaguethe press release that accompanied his latest release does not delve too deep into his pastthere is little information on last.fm and the likes…All [...]
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Shark Speed produces Sea Sick Music
Today’s Cougar pick are a band hailing from Utah, Nevada and Arizona, just in case one state doesn’t satisfy you. Shark Speed describe their music as ‘progressive’ though personally I prefer to go with melodic ‘post-punk with pop sensibilities’. Listening to debut album ‘Sea Sick Music’ it is immediately that these boys are incredibly competent [...]
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Forest Fire release Survival album in the UK
Forest Fire’s began promoting tracks off of their ‘Survival’ album over a year ago earning themselves some attention along the way. With an official UK release under their belts just a month ago this buzz is only destined to grow.Recorded between Brooklyn and Portland to accommodate band members living on both American coasts, yet in [...]
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Michael Franti’s machine heals burst appendixes
I am happy to post that Michael Franti is recovering following emergency surgery to remove his ruptured appendix last week and appears in good spirits. He posted this photo of his guitar, apparently that “ machine heals burst appendixes”.I first heard Franti and his band during my travels in Thailand when a couple of guys [...]
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Coldplay Keep Marching On
Coldplay can’t seem to put a foot wrong at the moment, both in musical terms and ( crucially) in their promotional strategies. Just when you were beginning to think their trademark sound was destined to age on the hollow notes of ‘X&Y‘ they recruited Brian Eno to regain a little spark. His liberal borrowing of [...]
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Just because you’re paranoid, Don’t mean they’re not after you
When I was 10 years old I was given Nirvana’s seminal 1991 album ‘Nevermind‘ on cassette but due to a design fault in my old school brick-like Sony Walkman it was easier to rewind than switch the tape over. So for the first few weeks I listened to Side A methodically rewinding the tape literally [...]
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WHY? live @ The Garage 06/07/09
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Walking into the newly re-branded, re-decorated, re-everything-ed ‘Relentless’ Garage in Highbury hideous treble reverberates around the arch, despite the best efforts of support act Munch Munch. My worst apprehension appears to be confirmed; sound has been compromised during redevelopment of the old sweat pit and aesthetics have taken priority. What’s more it has not been [...]
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Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen give London a lesson in Rock N Roll
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Whilst the whole world focussed on Glastonbury a few weekends ago I attended what I jokingly called Glasto-lite, Hard Rock Calling. Having featured The Police, The Who and Aerosmith in past years this relatively new festival delivers a valid alternative to those who are unable (or unwilling) to disappear for 4 days camping in a [...]
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Beastie Boy Diagnosed With Cancer
Beastie Boy Adam Yaunch (AKA MCA) has been diagnosed with cancer of the preaortic gland and lymph node. The rapper, flanked by friend and bandmate Ad-Rock, took a novel approach to breaking the news to fans by broadcasting it to the world via a youtube video and added that he expects to fully recovery. [...]
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Monsters Of Folk Arise!
A collaboration between Conor Oberst and Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes), Jim James (My Morning Jacket) and M. Ward (erm, M.Ward and She & Him) was, at the very least, going to be interesting. Their reputations alone pretty much justify the moniker Monster Of Folk. Add the fact that they are already being reffered to as [...]
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Cougar Birthday Treat
A couple of days ago I stumbled across this sweet Fortune remix of Phoenix’s kick ass ‘1901‘ track. I think I will play it on Saturday night but also wanted to share as part of a very prolific birthday week.Will hopefully feature Fortune again soon so make sure to check out another fine French quality [...]
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Happy Birthday Cougar Microbes!
About a year ago this week I published the first post on Cougar Microbes. Despite the chest-beating confidence in my initial manifesto I really had no idea the project would take off at all. fortunately the blog has gone from strength to strength adding new writers, more content and a photography section.My initial prediction that [...]
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Skunk Anansie Tear The Place Up
In case you need any more reminders Skunk Anansie are back and touring hard. Here is an exclusive video for new single ‘Tear This Place Up‘, created by the talented Adam Powell . The track is the first of three new tracks bundled with their upcoming greatest hits album.‘Tear This Place Up‘ is available for [...]
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Adopt Rescue Cat This Summer
Rescue Cat hit me up with his impressive new single, £10 Bag, a couple of months ago. Had it been a tape I would have worn it out by now. Imagine a collision between White Town’s legendary ‘Your Woman‘ single and Popcorn, the theme from my favourite 80s pc game Digger. With an official itunes [...]
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