I previously expressed my indifference to Jamelia sound-alike Neon Hitch but seemingly I'm not the authority on who makes it in the music biz (who knew?) as the London-based circus performer turned singer has landed a massive record deal with Warner, having been signed by American Idol's Kara Dioguardi.She's currently working with top notch producers on her debut album, 'Beg, Borrow and Steal', but as a means of drumming up some early interest, has produced some timely covers and mash-ups.These 'interpretations' are slickly produced and inventive and, although I'm not someone who likes to admit I'm wrong, but perhaps I was too quick to make a call about Ms. Hitch initially...Ouch. That hurt.Neon Hitch - Cooler Than Me (Sia vs. Mike Posner)Neon Hitch - Billionaire (Travis McCoy cover)Neon... Similar posts

Review: Stephen Byrne (Originally posted @ Alternative Irish Music Review) Taking Lives is the second single from Dublin’s Zombie Cops is a complete change in tact from the excellent debut Win Some Loose Some. The song builds slowly from a progish “Down On The Upside” era Soundgarden guitar intro underlayed by a “On a Rope” type rhythm figure. The call and response vocals of Kevin Fagan and Jamie Hughes work well throughout the entire song. Its back to more familiar musical territory for the verse and choruses as Jimmy Eat World, Open Hand, and Incubus influences are once again apparent. With a touch of Editors guitar trickery the song slows before ending on a flourish with a recap of the main riff. Zombie Cops launch Taking Lives in Whelan’s of Wexford... Similar posts

I have an identity crisis looming. It’s all my mate Andrie’s fault. She says I should consider changing the name of the book. Panic! But am I over-reacting? . The case for the prosecution: JULIET: ‘Tis but thy name that is my enemy; Thou art thyself, though not a Montague. What’s Montague? it is nor... Similar posts

Co. Down rockers Ash have released the video for their latest A-Z song, Carnal Love this week in advance of the songs office release this Sunday. Intresting video, we’re not sure if we love or hate it.... Similar posts

Cowboy builders must be the most annoying things imaginable right? You'd have to be some serious pain in the arse if you topped that, like if you played some evil prank on someone which ended up with the prank's reciprocal having something like bird poo on their head, or maybe some form of liquid being thrown over them from a great height, whilst they were looking up, with their mouth open and wearing their best T-Shirt. But what makes cowboy builders the biggest annoyance in like evaaa? Well, you pay them to come around and fix something you know nothing about, and when they leave with your money you think everything is perfect again. A few days or even weeks later, you realise it isn't; you can't get your money back; you can’t... Similar posts

Kiltha River Trad Fest – Thursday 29th July – Sunday 1st August Comedian Pat Shortt called into the local radio station CRY here in Youghal yesterday (Tuesday 27th July 2010) to promote his own traditional music festival this weekend in Castlemartyr. The funny man was special guest on the Youghal @ 5 with Stanley Knott. Pat told YoughalOnline.com that he hopes to join the musicians on stage during the weekend and may even tell a joke or two! Photo: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com Email: news@youghalonline.com CRY station manager Declan Gibbons, Darragh Parker and Yvonne Smyth try to get Pat to say a few words on the radio An accomplished musician with a particular grá for and interest in traditional Irish music, Pat Shortt has played, toured and recorded with many... Similar posts

As suggested by the title, this is a mixed tape of various cover songs that I like. Amongst them, there are some fantastic re-interpretations, as well as simply some fine renditions of the original arrangement. Play the tape here! The set list is as follows: * The Antlers – Apple Orchard (Beach House) * Karen O – Highway 61 Revisited (Bob Dylan) * Tom Waits – King Kong (Daniel Johnston) * John Cale – Heartbreak Hotel (Elvis Presley) * Cat Power – Dark End of the Street (James Carr) * Placebo – Running Up That Hill (Kate Bush) * Bright Eyes – Papa Was a Rodeo (The Magnetic Fields) * Beach House – Play the Game (Queen) Filed under: Mixtapes, Music Tagged: Song Covers... Similar posts

I really love what Swedish alt-pop princess Robyn is doing with her Body Talk triple album. Although recent efforts by Janelle Monáe and The xx are strong arguments for preserving the 'album' format, it's true that the traditional 10 - 12 track LP, spanning approximately an hour, is becoming increasingly redundant in the digital era.Robyn's approach of releasing digestible batches of songs every few months, allowing her to avoid long gaps between releases or singles becoming 'stale' by the time they're ever officially released.The first installment, 'Body Talk Part 1', was a triumph and early reports suggest that 'Part 2', set for releases in September, is shaping up quite nicely. The first single will be 'Hang With Me', which appeared on 'Part 1' in an acoustic form.A simple but... Similar posts

I first stumbled across big-voiced Birmingham belter Clare Maguire when she featured in Illegal Tender's 'tips for 2009' and I immediately fell in love with the demo for her track 'Strangest Thing'.Over a year and a half later and the final version of that same track has surfaced and, oh boy, was it worth the wait. I defy you to tell me that this isn't a little bit special.Clare Maguire - Strangest Thing:You liked that? Well, I suggest you download the track for free over on Neon Gold.Clare's debut single proper is due in September. An album will follow in the new year. The countdown... Similar posts

Jay Sean recently premiered the lead single 2012 from his upcoming album, due out this November. Sean is still striking while the iron is hot and quickly churning out another album before irrelevancy kicks in! Shout! The Music Magazine read more... Similar posts

Another day reveals another music video and Natasha Bedingfield has just released one to accompany her new single Touch. The song will be the first single from her fourth studio album, the whoreishly titled Strip Me which has no fixed release date yet but should be out by the end of the year. Shout! The Music Magazine read more... Similar posts

Hey All, Long time no blog. I was honoured, to be asked to guess-post for one of  Ireland’s best blogs; A Chick Named Hermia last week. So I’ve worked my little fingers off, typing away at that for the last few days. I have no qualms about writing for my blog, but wow, I actually... Similar posts

Spent a lovely day on Saturday at the Dun Laoghaire World Festival of Cultures. It was their 10th anniversary and those guys sure know how to put on party. Dun Laoghaire was amass with people and stalls and music and fun. It was well spread out too and the biggest free festival I have seen. There were stages and busking dotted around Dun Laoghaire in the hotels and bars and on street corners. We checked out the Global Village with stalls selling crafts and food from all corners of the world and Mr.Whippy playing DJ in the middle of it all. There was also the faith space celebrating all the various faiths around the world and a tree of compassion where you could leave messages. After that we headed to the People’s Park where it was true Bollywood with Mela in full flow. The Mela... Similar posts

Bandcamp may be taking over the reins of leading online musical display case for bands these days but the old social networking model isn’t over yet. MyTuneRox is the latest in online music networking and it’s all based right here in Ireland. If you’ve used MySpace before you know the drill. Pics, friends, blogs and tunes. It’s aimed mostly at Irish bands from what we’ve gathered and there’s almost 200 bands already signed up. The site kicks off officially launches next month but the beta version is up and running now. Even Tickets There has found time to throw a profile together…but for the life of us, we cannot figure out how to link to our home page so we’ll update the Follow Tickets There widget as soon as we do. Check details of the sites Battle of The Bands @... Similar posts

Every so often you come across some music which you just think how have I not heard this before, back in April 2009 over some tasty beers Ed & Rhonda introduced me to the wonderful Twilight Sad. I’d suggest just starting at the beginning and buying everything thing that they have written, but if thats not quite your thing just pick up their last album Forget The Night Ahead.... Similar posts

The human body has its limit: the point where it feels it can no longer 'go on' with a high energy-consuming exercises, despite what the mid wants to do. The limit can be altered by many things - alcohol and cigarettes can reduce the amount of high energy-consuming exercise a person can do, whilst drugs like ecstasy can increase the limit. Anyone who's experienced a hot, sweaty night club where the music is so loud it defies your ear drums; where the people are rubbing up against each other like moonfish; where the currency are those all-important, irresistibly addictive little white pills which can help you 'go on' for longer, party harder, scream louder, jumper higher and fall in love over and over again in the same night, will... Similar posts

It’s that time of year again as last week saw 12 of the finest releases of the last year selected for the Mercury Prize short-list. Launched in 1992 the Mercury Prize remains one of the few awards to still hold some merit in these X-Factor driven times and once you’re a UK or Irish artist and actually bother to apply (it’s £195.50 if you fancy your chances…) then you’re in with a shout. The eventual winner will receive £20,000 but more importantly a shed load of press coverage which should see a healthy jump in album sales in the coming months (cue dollar signs in Record Label executive’s eyes). There have been some outstanding albums this year so this was always going to be an interesting set of nominees in terms of wild cards and exclusions and perhaps the most notable... Similar posts

When Click Here organised a meet-up with Leanne Harte, I immediately thought to myself, “self, I know that name. She was a singer years ago, I wonder what she’s been up to?”. Little did I know that the singer-songwriter had been on a journey that would impress Odysseus. From 16 year-old on the cusp of hitting the big time, to dealing with a manager who didn’t do all he should, coming out and then burning out; it’s been one hell of a ride. And she wants to do it all again. Only this time, Leanne is a young woman comfortable in her own skin, in her own abilities and living her own life. When I was 16, I was trying to memorise French verbs. When Leanne Harte was 16 she launched an EP of her own music. A talented singer, an excellent guitarist and none-too-shabby... Similar posts

On repeat: "Cocaine make you grind your teeth all night..."http://www.myspace.com/caryannhearst... Similar posts