2008 June | obika.mobi magazine

30Jun/080

Sa Dingding 琴伤 (Qin Shang) EP

If you're out and about today and are near an HMV then you might want to pick up the new EP from Sa Dingding. It's supposed to have four songs on it but this image snagged from the Chinese search engine Baidu only lists two. If you haven't searched for stuff using Baidu I highly recommend it. Since there is no concept of copyright you can find almost everything on it, though sometimes you get some pretty odd results.

Anyway, the EP is supposed to contain a Full Phatt remix of “Alive”. We'll see if it's any good. I'm still a pretty frequent listener of Sa Dingding and I am looking forward to getting my hands on this disc.

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25Jun/080

Calico Brothers – God Left Town EP

Last month I purchased the God Left Town EP and fully intended to post a review of it within a short time frame. Well, you know how things go. Time marches on, things get in the way, and here we are on June 25th and still, I don't have a proper review to give you.

And here's why:

Calico Brothers debut release, the six song 'god left town' EP, provides a blueprint for all that they hold dear in musical form.

Blueprints aren't buildings and, as much as I like the songs on this EP, an EP isn't an album. There's just not enough meat for a full on review. Three of the songs I've heard before, so really for me this is more of a three song EP.

What I can say from what I can hear is that these guys enjoy playing and are having a good time. They have a feel good sound that truly evokes that "Idyllic California" of the some imagined past.

What I am looking for is something more. I know these guys have it.

Quite possibly, I'd see it live if I were in New Zealand. I don't know about that happening any time soon, unless anyone over there wants to hire a lawyer/glassblower/wannabe blogger in New Zealand. Then I would be able to watch Outrageous Fortune AND see the Calico Brothers live. That would be pretty sweet.

Anyway, I promise to get out a right proper review as soon as those Calico Brothers get around to releasing a right proper album.

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17Jun/080

The other half of the Libertines

Carl Barat's band, Dirty Pretty Things, have a new single out called "Tired of England." The video is below. I was not a huge fan of Waterloo to Anywhere, their debut album. If anything, Barat just doesn't have the vocal range to carry an album. The sound of this song shows a nicer, less rough Dirty Pretty Things. I'm taking a wait and see approach with the album. Tired of England definitely doesn't make me want to run out and buy the album.

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16Jun/080

arctic monkeys side project

The lead singer of the Arctic Monkeys has a side project with the guitarist from the rascals. Their band is called The Last Shadow Puppets. They have a 60s vibe to them. I'm debating buying the album. Heard a few songs....Not really sold. Think I'm going to pass. Here's one of their songs called My Mistakes Were Made For You.