South Coast Living

Good Morning/Afternoon/Evening to all of you fantastic people who read this blog! The Weekly Stew turns 18 today in blog years (1 week = 1 year for those who aren't in the know). We were around back when Durban was cold, Matt Mole wasn't world famous and Dylan Royal was single...we really are an institution now. I'm still waiting for my government tender from JZ and Julius to arrive though, guess we haven't quite made an impression on that market!

One thing that I am very excited about is that we are embarking on a little side 'Stew' with the blog. In the next few weeks we are going to start chatting to the members of local bands, and we're going to get them to tell us 5 songs that influenced them and just why they find those tracks so exciting! We are super keen for this! Are there any specific bands you would like to hear from? Drop us a comment to let us know if there is!

Back to the reason that you have all turned your computers on today, not to work or go on facebook, but to peruse the latest edition of The Weekly Stew!

1. Biffy Clyro - Black Chandelier

Biffy Clyro have to be one of the most bad-ass rock 'n roll groups around today! I have been wanting to feature them for ages but they tend to make their music in a way that you need to listen to an entire album to appreciate it properly. That all changed with 'Black Chandelier', their new single off their forthcoming album, it is a single to make music lovers drool! It lulls you into a false sense of peace, until you realise a couple of minutes later that you can’t get the bloody thing out of your head. Biffy Clyro are Scottish and therefore they are spectactular, I may or may not have Scottish heritage. My Brother-In-Law saw these guys opening for Linkin Park a couple of years ago and he said that they outshone LP in every way, not a bad band to beat! So now go and enjoy some Scottish boys crooning to you!

2. Abbe May - Karmageddon 

Well this is a different sounding track from our usual offering. It's rather epic if I do say so myself. Abbe May is a West Australian coastal town girl who has brought the genre of doom-pop onto the airwaves! All I can say is that it is unnervingly good, I shouldn't like it but I love it. She has managed to combine smooth pop hooks with such a full and violent sound that its almost like a little bit of genius at work. Every time I listen to the track I love it more and I find new parts to it that I just hadn't heard before because there is just so much amazing stuff going on in the track! Her facebook page goes so far as to state that it sounds like 'Kylie Minogue on Acid', the weird thing is that I kinda agree! 

3. Swiss Lips - Danz

Swiss Lips come from just about the last place you expect a band with that name to come from...Manchester. I know right!? Why do some punks from Manchester call themselves Swiss Lips? Well only their parents can answer that one! Swiss Lips play a combination of fizzy, electro and dance-pop thrills that will light up your day no matter where you are or what mood you are in! They have been likened to Friendly Fires and have already begun to amass the same sort of mass following as FF in their native Manchester! 'Danz' is a killer track, it has some great hooks and features an old man doing a dance that rivals even that crazy Korean guy who all the 12 year old's go moggy over! 

4. Young Liars - Colours

Young Liars have been bookmarked on my computer since mid-year and I have been eagerly awaiting putting them on the blog for you guys to enjoy! The band is comprised of 5 Canadians who play some indie rock and a lil bit of synthpop in their spare time. I really enjoy how they have crafted 'Colours', it doesn't follow the conventional route that songs seem to take these days but it still has a great sound and vibe to it. The most startling feature for me is that the song never really seems to build up to higher things, this being said the entire song is rather huge in sound so the lack of ascension in sound doesn't really matter! 

5. Gold Fields - Dark Again

I don't know much about Gold Fields except that they are an Australian 5 piece that play a blend of dancey-pop that has captured my attention! A combination of clean vocals,  jangly guitar work and deeply moving drum work has laid the basis for success for this band. The entire 4 minutes and 41 seconds of Dark Again sounds awesome to me, they have managed to make a true chart topper and I hope they make many more! Ok I admit that this song is very poppy but I'm allowed to like at least a couple of pop songs, we can't all be the ultimate hipsters!

Bonus!!

6. Foals - My Number

This week we have a little bonus for you! Another new Foals track, unfortunately its just a live recording but that doesn't stop it being epic! It takes me back to the older Foals sound that we all loved so much. If you go onto Youtube there is a live video which shows the actual band performing this live but for some reason that video won't embed onto the blog!

Well that's the end of our 18th edition, my how we have grown and yes we are still as cute as we were when we were 1! As always please vote for your favorite track and drop us a comment to let us know how we are doing! Till next week!

Terms and Conditions

Whatsup everybody! I'm back again, (don't all leave at once), and its time for another serving of stew to hit your screens, not literally of course (unless you are into that kind of stuff). I trust that Mr Royal treated you well last week in my absence? Exams are over so I am in a fantastic mood and I hope that all of you guys are too! Last week's voting said that the new Foals song was your favourite, I can fully agree, that track is crazy sick!!

Time for the first Stew of the holidays to begin!

1. Little Green Cars - The John Wayne

We start this week off with a little Irish Country-Rock, I actually heard this song for the first time last night but I already know most of the lyrics...The repeat button can be evil! 'The John Wayne' is the first single off Little Green Cars' debut album and it already has many people's tongues wagging at its absolute goodness! The 5 piece from Dublin have created a sound that varies from Arcade Fire and Band of Horses to a little bit of Mumford and Sons in the shade! From the moment the solid bass drum kick starts, you just get sucked into the music. It really is worth a listen!

2. Millions - Nineteen

Millions are a bunch of crazy garage rockers outta Brisbane in Australia who now play indie pop...that's not something you see everyday!? Garage rockers turned poppers. Well whatever they did it worked, they have managed to create a sound that reminds me of Franz Ferdinand in their prime, driving bass-lines and some stellar drum work really push the sound forward and the lead singer's vocals aren't half bad either! Definitely another band to look out for in the future!

3. Kingswood - She's My Baby

'Ooooooh She's my baby', that's what I have been singing at the most inopportune times over the last weekend and I have this song to thank for it! Enter 'Kingswood', the Melbourne blues-rock 4 piece that has been tearing up the airwaves for the last couple of months. They sound a little bit like Kings of Leon back in the day before their sex caught fire and they name Led Zeppelin and Queens of the Stone Age as their influences (Doyal is going nuts). One thing is for sure though, these boys don't mess around. Their sound is huge and so is their particular brand of rock 'n roll. I don't think these guys would have been out of place in the 70's. So get your hair extensions out and your tight leather pants ready to rock out to 'Kingswood'.

4. The Neighbourhood - Sweater Weather

The 4th track on this week's playlist comes from some Californian boys who have managed to create a sound that combines a little bit of pop, some rock and some hip-hop. Interested yet? Well you should be! These guys are this year's sound of summer, they pick up where Foster the People left off with their catchy beats and smooth vocals. Their music has a strong instrumental backing and tunes that will get stuck in your head for weeks on end. I really just feel my stress (yes students can be stressed) leaving my body as I listen to these guys weave their magical web of musical bliss!

5. Purity Ring - Lofticries

We end this week's playlist off with a Canadian electronic duo who have so many tags to their music that I will just choose a few of my favourites, they apparently play "Synth-pop, dream-pop, post-dubstep, witch-house, indietronica, futurepop". OK that is enough styles of music to last a lifetime! All that I know is that these guys are amazing at what they do, they take you to a whole new place with their music, it's so soothing yet at the same time you want to dance to it's weird and wonderful ways. Even I can't explain what that means! This is one of their best tracks and it will be probably your best spent 4 minutes of your day when you listen to it!

That's it for this week! I hope you guys are having fantastic holidays or if you aren't on holiday yet that this playlist brightens up your day somewhat! Don't forget to vote!

Waterfall In Slow Motion

Yo wadup ma'nizzles!! Doyal here again.
I'm probably one of 3 people in the country that isn't writing exams so I get to play the host this week. I'm just hoping that everyone procrastinates and reads this post, giving me a fuller sense of achievement. So this week I've found some more alternative artists, not as mainstream as usual (I sound so hipster right now), but hope you enjoy it. If you don't, then you haven't listened properly or you're actually a deaf bear with great web-browsing skills.

1. Foals - Inhaler

We kick off this weeks tracks with the shiny, sparkling new single from the cosmically incredible English 6-piece, Foals. If you are a Foals addict like the rest of the world (including the Malawian president), then you'll be used to their last two albums which were full of clean-sounding, mathematical harmonies and melodies. This single has shifted the band into a bit more of a heavier direction, and it's incredible. Can't get enough of this song. The video is rated for explicit content so be warned.

2. Tennis - Origins

I'm not sure what this band was thinking when they named themselves after one of the world's most popular sports. Yeah, that doesn't really help when you try google them. This is what I call a 3rd-wheel-band, because it started out as a husband-wife duo with the drummer joining at a later stage. *Awkwaaard*. Anyway, I dig the catchy little chorus vibes in this song, I know you'll enjoy it too.

3. Emma Louise - Jungle

Here's one just for the girls. Emma Louise fits snugly into the Adele/Lana Del Ray mould, with a bit of Florence and the Machine mixed in there. The crooning falsetto chorus will be stuck in your head till next week monday, I can think of a couple moments when I've embaressingly belted it out in public. I really battled to find out anything at all about Emma, so I'll let her music speak for her instead. 

4. Absofacto - Punch Drunk on Black Mold

I was pretty stoked when I stumbled across this guy. Either this guy is a graphic designer or he has a genrous friend willing to do sick work for him. The graphics that he features on his YouTube videos and album artwork really express his music well, which has given him a sound identity as a musician (I feel like I'm writing an essay for uni!). Absofacto has secured a solid spot in my iTunes and I'm sure it'll be the same for you!

5. James Blake - Limit To Your Love

This song. I don't even know where to start. Despite the incredible lyrics, the actual song is ridiculous. There's a surprise at 0:55 seconds in to the track that will actually make your heart skip a couple beats. Try play this over a decent system, my iMac speakers can't handle it and it just frustrates me! Seriously, this will change your life. Listen. It's beautiful

Thanks for listening Stewdents, don't forget to vote at the top of the page!

The Suburbs

Hey Everybody! Another week has flown by and its already time for you to get some Stew in your lives once more! As calculated from your votes, the favorite track of last week's post came from 'Everything Everything'...seems that you guys can't get enough of the indie rockers either! If you didn't vote and your favorite didn't win then you only have yourself to blame!

This week's post is going to be a bit of a shorter one, firstly because I got told that I may have gone on a little bit too long last week (sorry for that), and secondly because I am in the middle of exams and as much as I love writing for you guys every week I just can't afford to take too much time on this! Next week's post is going to be a special 'study music' edition so to help me out I need you to comment with your favorite songs to study too and who knows, your song may make it onto next week's post so comment like crazy!!

For this week I have gone through some of my favorites from years past that everyone should know and a couple of amazing new tracks so I trust that you will enjoy the collection!

1. Givers - Up Up Up

Givers are an indie pop group (never had one of those on the blog before!) from Lafayette, Louisiana who have some of the most ridiculous accents I have ever heard. Ridiculously cool, that is. I know this because I was lucky enough to watch them live in Australia in February this year. The band is super genuine and they really do make music that just puts a huge smile on your face...two people were bickering as they started their set and within minutes they were best of mates as 'Givers' just spread the infectious joy that comes with their music. The band has managed to create a real good vibe around themselves and they are perfect to listen to after a long day of work or studying as they are just so damn happy all of the time! I may have a small crush on the lead singer's voice, she is fantastic! Ok I will leave it there and let 'Givers' minister their happy vibes to you!

2. Arcade Fire - Ready to Start

If you have never heard of Arcade Fire then I feel sorry for you! Arcade Fire are about as close to  perfect as a band can get, although my opinion may be slightly biased. OK a little back story on Arcade Fire; they are a band from Montreal, in Canada, and have had numerous members but one thing that has remained constant is the husband and wife duo of Win Butler and Régine Chassagne who have to be up there with the greatest husband-wife duo of our time! They released their first album in 2004 to critical acclaim and that album is still on high rotation in my car. Since then they have just gone from strength to strength with their blend of indie rock and art-pop, some people find their music slow and sad but I find it truly amazing...it reaches the soul of a person and they play a game of tennis with your emotions! Each Arcade Fire album is an experience of the highest order that is not to be missed! Their latest album 'The Suburbs' won pretty much every award there was out there for a band to win, it was spectacular! This particular track is taken off that album, I really reccomend that you listen to the full album though from start to finish. If there is one thing you ever take from this blog it should be that you need to listen to more Arcade Fire! I really can't do them justice so go listen!

3. Arcade Fire - The Suburbs

You need to listen to more of them so here is another one of their songs!

4. The Rubens - Lay It Down

The next track this week comes from an Aussie band. 'The Rubens' play a concoction of Blues, Soul and Rock. I really fell in love with them from the first time I heard this track last year, it is just so full of soul and feel. It really is amazing that these guys are so young as they sound so mature and wise to the follies of life! I wasn't the only one who fell in love with them apparently because they are in the process of opening up for the Black Keys as they tour around Australia! How rad is that?? They get to open for one of the greatest bands in the world, that's not a bad way to spend your life! Over to The Rubens now, let them Lay it Down for you...

5. The Cast Of Cheers - Family

What a name for a indie/math rock band from Ireland! They certainly didn't take the easy way out when naming their band! Name aside, these guys are great, they are different, they are fresh and they like to have fun. I have only heard things that will make me love them so far! These guys are VERY indie and if you like Foals then you will probably enjoy these guys as well! I must say that these guys would make it close to the top of my list of bands to watch in the future! They are on the cusp of doing great things! 'Family' is one of their best tracks and it's music video uses some really cool stop animation to great effect! Go on and get your fix!

6. The Strokes - Last Nite

Now we get to the kings of cool themselves, the men who lead the trend of musicians into wearing leather jackets and skinny jeans once more, it can only be The Strokes. When these guys burst onto the scene in 2001 they heralded a new age for guitar rock and roll, they single handedly revived the garage rock scene and their debut album is still considered one of the greatest albums of this century (Yes I know that its only been 12 years). My brother-in-law introduced me to them around 7 or 8 years ago and to this day I am so thankful that he did, these are the guys who really helped to shape my love for music. The combination of distinctive vocals from Julian Casablancas and epic guitar, drum and bass work done by the rest of the band just made these guys one of my ultimate bands. They have it all; style, taste, talent and a penchant for making top class rock 'n roll! I have put in one of their first songs 'Last Nite' (Still one of the best songs ever written) and one of their newer songs 'You Only Live Once' because I couldn't quite choose which one to put in! Enjoy!

7. The Strokes - You Only Live Once

OK so after planning for this to be a short post it seems to have gone on for longer than usual! Don't forget to vote for your favorite and to COMMENT with your favorite songs to study to! Just do it and I will see you next week!