Archive for November, 2007
Raving mad
Friday, November 30th, 2007
If you thought the extent to which dance music could infiltrate indie had been taken to its limit with pseudo-ravers Klaxons, think again.
Falkirk’s very own IDIOTCUT have, quite magnificently it has to be said, managed to add a dose of authentic retro trance (think QFX anthem Freedom) to the usual guitar-bass-drum set-up – and it doesn’t half make for a riotous combination.
The youngsters, currently being featured in XFM Scotland’s Uploaded new band spot, are definitely worth keeping an eye out for. Now, where did we put that glowstick?
4 idiotCUT – DrinkDancePullRewind
b December 3, Rockers, Glasgow
b January 31, Studio 24, Edinburgh
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The life of Ryan
Wednesday, November 28th, 2007
Here’s a question. If you were to listen to every official RYAN ADAMS album back to back, how long would it take? The answer: 8.5 hours (yes, we did the experiment; no, we don’t get out enough). And that’s not even taking into account his dozens of b-sides, album bonus tracks, EPs and countless unreleased bootlegs.
Of course, that statistic only serves to prove the boy can write a song or two hundred, and as anyone who has followed the American’s seven-year solo career will confirm, quality control has never been high on his to-do list. It’s all very well patting yourself on the back for bringing out three albums in eight months (as he did in 2005… and one was a double album at that), but Adams continually runs the risk of watering down the impact of each rush-released record.
The only reason we care so much is that the 33-year-old’s undoubted bursts of genius deserve better. For example, while his most recent album Easy Tiger is possibly his weakest yet, he followed it up last month with Follow The Lights, an EP (repackaged as Everybody Knows EP in the UK) of staggeringly beautiful songcraft that contains some of his best work to date – yet few are aware of its existence.
The Pop Cop’s message to Adams is simple: Keep up the good work… just don’t neglect your duty to ditch the stuff that’s not so good.
4 Ryan Adams – Always On My Mind (Elvis Presley cover)
b December 1, Clyde Auditorium, Glasgow
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Josh and go
Monday, November 26th, 2007
JOSH ROUSE is the kind of singer-songwriter that most singing, songwriting hopefuls would want to follow in the footsteps of.
The prolific American has released a full-length record of the folk/alternative country variety every year since 1998. He has a fiercely loyal fanbase that affords him the luxury of touring roomy venues in Europe and North America. And he recently decided to up sticks and move to the warm climes of Valencia, where he wasted no time in bagging dishy Spanish singer Paz Suay (pictured above).
Even if you’ve never been introduced to Rouse’s charms, a pretty concise indication of his story can be found in the simplistic titles of some of his albums: Dressed Up Like Nebraska (his state of origin), 1972 (the year he was born), Nashville (Josh’s home for 10 years), She’s Spanish, I’m American (the missus).
Having seen the man and his band in action at The Arches on his last visit to Glasgow in 2005, The Pop Copcan guarantee you’ll be left even more envious of Rouse’s talents when you see just how slick a performer he is.
4 Josh Rouse – Directions
b December 1, QMU, Glasgow
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