Marling's Blues Run the Game

The gorgeous Laura Marling has had a stellar year with the release of her second album, "I Speak Because I Can.' Finally we have the release of her recordings at Jack White's (White Stripes) Third Man studio. A cover of ‘Blues Run The Game’ by singer Jackson C Frank, and Marling's amazing cover of Neil Young’s ‘The Needle And The Damage Done'. Listen to the tracks below.(Originally posted on NME)

Laura Marling, 'Blues Run The Game' by Tim Chester NME


Laura Marling, 'The Needle And The Damage Done' by Tim Chester NME

Miami Horror and Kimbra

My housemate introduced me to Miami Horrow, a great dance band, singing here with Kimbra another great artists we should be supporting.

Boy and Bear

I have seen these guys four times in the last year, supporting Laure Marling and Mumford and Sons, and my love for them keeps growing. Like Fleet Foxes, the mix beautiful harmonies with the folky rock of nash and young. Really great band we should be supporting.

SPARKADIA-TALKING LIKE IM FALLING DOWN STAIRS

How can you not love a song that references Fred Astaire and John Wayne?

DAN KELLY

Legendary Australian songwriter Paul Kelly has a nephew just as talented as him. I give you Dan Kelly.

On the trainwreck that was this years Aria Awards

I don't know how many of you watched the Aria's on Sunday night, but i was one of the unfortunate ones who preceeded to watch the Australia Music Industry's "night of nights". Despite Megan Washington's amazing live performance and Dan Sultan and INXS performance, the evening was a trainwreck.

Held at the Sydney Opera House, the event looked more like an awkward afterparty rather than an award show, and as Marieke Hardy points out in her excellent piece in the Drum the Aria's on sunday night were more about a 'tv show' than an awards night. Instead of promoting the wonderful talent this country has the aria's turned into a cross-promotional event for channel 10. Why was Laura Bingle presenting an award? Why was Carmen Electra?

From Ricki-Lee's inapproriate hand gestrures to guest Eric Stonestreet( from Modern Family, on Channel Ten ), to Jessica Maouboy misprounouncing 'debut' twice, to the presenters chasing down the winners, including Bernard Fannings awesome "What did we win" comment", the whole event was a schmozzle.

The only thing that made the night was the amount of shout outs Triple J got for supporting up and coming artists in Australia. The night is meant to be a celebtration of our music industry, but instead was a celebration of cross promotion.

We should be showcasing the great new talents in this country, while Angus and Julia Stone, Dan Sultan, Washington, Sia and Birds of Tokyo were all recognised, the event was less about them and more about sponsors. There was no mention of Boy and Bear, barely a mention of Dan Kelly and Cloud Control. No Sparkadia and no Miami Horror. All great up and coming artists that we should be promoting. I vote for triple j and abc to host next years arias, bring it back to the music.

Apologies about the rant but it is upsetting as a fan and supporter of local Australian music to see the Aria's fall apart like this. In the meantime, have a look at Boy and Bear, Dan Kelly, Sparkadia and Miami Horror on my next few post. All awesome Aussie acts that we should support.

Tina Fey does Sarah Palin!

Despite my disappointment at the mid-term election results in the US, and the fact that Tea-party 'nincompops'( As former Ronald Reagan speechwriter, Peggy Noonan called Sarah Palin)won seats, the material they provide comedians with is endless. Everyone knows Tina Fey's impersonation of Sarah Palin, and she brought it back on the Late Show with David Letterman.



Also worth looking at Maureen Dowd's article on smart women in politics and how Palin makes irgnorance look chic.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/20/opinion/20dowd.html?ref=maureendowd