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On The Record

Jim Carroll

Music, Life and everything else

Monthly Archives: January 2011

Anyone for a new music social networking site?

All things eventually come to an end, though the death throes for MySpace may go on for quite some time yet. No doubt, though, with staff lay-offs and rumours galore about a sell-off, the one-time social networking giant is headed …

John Barry RIP
  • RIP
  • January 31, 2011, 09:39

The soundtrack composer who scored “Midnight Cowboy”, “Born Free”, “Goldfinger”, “From Russia With Love” and many other classic films has died. Obituary here.

Would you like fried chicken with that? Yeahhh bwoyyy!

There are some stories which land on the OTR desk and make us cackle with glee. To be honest, any story these days which doesn’t involve the music industry doing really stupid things to annoy music fans is going to …

Now Playing – the sounds of the week

This week’s essential tunes and albums on the OTR jukebox. Please feel free to add your own selections below. Jessie Ware & Sampha “Valentine” (Young Turks) Jessie Ware and Sampha coo at each over a beautiful music box of a …

This week in The Ticket – and your plugs

James Blake: 6′ 5″, dubstep EPs, seven gigs, Stevie Wonder, Goldsmiths College, the mainstream, being a next big thing, Feist, that amazing debut album and much more. Tangled: Alan Menken on how to compose a classic Disney score as demonstrated …

New Music – Strange Talk, World’s End Press, Screendeath

The latest New Music selections from the On The Record column in tomorrow’s edition of The Ticket. All tips for future New Music picks welcome below. Strange Talk Two acts from Down Under to mark Australia Day during the week. …

Smells like nostalgic spirit

Is it really 20 years ago since Nirvana brought some teen spirit to Sir Henry’s and the Top Hat when they supported Sonic Youth? OTR rarely indulges in nostalgia, but I probably won’t be the only person who is transported …

The Far Side – playlist for January 25

As played on The Far Side, Phantom 105.2, Tuesday January 25. Listen Again to The Far Side: you can listen back to a stream of last night’s show here. Screendeath “Packback” (Southern Fried) Sleigh Bells “Tell ‘Em (Diplo remix)” (N.E.E.T) …

The news from the south of France

Every January, the better paid elements of the music business decamp to Cannes for the annual MIDEM conference. As befits a gathering where deals are done and fine bottles of wine are quaffed, there’s usually very little live music and …

TV gold: Tonight With Vincent Browne

There’s only going to be one winner in the forthcoming general election and that’s the grumpy Limerickman with the weird eyebrows who locks up the TV3 studio most nights of the week and leaves the key under the mat for …

PiL, Dublin, June

As spotted by OTR reader Keith, PiL play their first ever Dublin show at Tripod on June 10. Tickets go on sale on January 28. UPDATE: Tickets will be €44.50 and €48.50 (plus ticket agency fees)

The randomiser rides again

You are about to read a politics-free randomiser. Don’t fret, sports fans, we’ll be dusting off On the Polls and it will be ready to roll as soon as the Prez dissolves the Dail to get #ge11 underway. App of …

The Ticket Album Club: Kanye West’s “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy”

Once a month, The Ticket convenes the Album Club. A panel of guest critics air their views about one album and you, dear readers, get to air your views on what they have to say and, of course, the album …

Has the time come to put the music back into MTV?

MTV UK announced plans this week for a new flagship channel which will, hold the front page, play music videos. The new channel is to be called MTV Music and, according to the network’s David Lynn, will break new artists …

Now Playing – the sounds of the week

This week’s essential tunes and albums on the OTR jukebox. Please feel free to add your own selections below. Foster the People “Houdini” (Startime International) Stunning tune from the Los Angeles band’s new EP which is every jot as good …

This week in The Ticket – and your plugs

Paul Giamatti: the actor who gets the calls to play quirky characters in offbeat projects like Sideways and American Splendor talks about his role as an out-of-control TV producer in Barney’s Version. Eurosonic: our 10 top sights and sounds at …

New Music – The Northern Drones, Kyla La Grange, The Suzan

The latest New Music selections from the On The Record column in tomorrow’s edition of The Ticket. All tips for future New Music picks welcome below. The Northern Drones Dublin-based, The Northern Drones specialise in ramshackle, headspinning psych-ramalama with a …

OTR says hello to The Ticket’s Album Club

From Friday, The Ticket’s monthly Album Club will take up residence in OTR. You’ll be able to read what our panel of reviewers have to say about the album in question and, naturally, add your own thoughts on the album …

Gigs over here, gigs over there

It has been a busy couple of days for new gig announcements so here are a few which might tickle the going-out bones of OTR readers. The awesome SBTRKT plays Mud at the Twisted Pepper, Dublin on February 25. Saw …

The Far Side – playlist for January 18

As played on The Far Side, Phantom 105.2, Tuesday January 18. Listen Again to The Far Side: you can listen back to a stream of last night’s show here. Foster the People “Houdini” (Startime International) Smith Westerns “Weekend” (Fat Possum) …

The men in the pinstripe suits

We don’t get the government we deserve; we get the government we collectively vote for. Look at them. Go on, take a good hard look at the last lot we voted for and sigh. Then take a look at what …

It’s all in the game: Zhivago, We7 and On Air, On Sale

Three music business stories in the ether this morning which may not look connected at first galnce, but are actually all part of the same conundrum. Zhivago Records in Galway has gone into liquidation with the loss of 15 jobs, …

Banter’s winter/spring 2011 collection
  • Banter
  • January 17, 2011, 10:23

A new year, a new run of Banter discussion panels. We had a pretty impressive run over the last few months – some memorable debates, squabbles and rows – so the hope is that the next set of panels will …

Eurosonic 2011: that Friday feeling

It’s quickly obvious after an hour or two on the go on Eurosonic’s third and final night (Saturday is Noorderslag night, where dozens of Dutch pop acts get to sing for their supper) that the festival has entered a whole …

Eurosonic 2011: the Thursday night files

A couple of hours gallivanting around Groningen last night – memo to self: hire a bloody bicycle next year – and a couple of very fine acts caught in action as Eurosonic got into full swing. Yes, there were also …

Bulls, bears and Fiddy

Crack dealer, actor, label boss, would-be fashion mogul, energy drink entrepreneur, video games’ producer, the most entertaining man on Twitter and, once in a while, rapper: is there anything that 50 Cent can’t do? Now, he’s even bested the stock …

Now Playing – the sounds of the week

This week’s essential tunes and albums on the OTR jukebox. Please feel free to add your own selections below. Martyn & Slott “All Nights” (All City) The best Irish label in the record-releasing business come up trumps again with this …

This week in The Ticket – and your plugs

Black Swan: Darren Aronofsky, the director of the flick set in the fiercely competitive world of ballet, talks Polanski, Portman and punishing pirouettes Adele: the Tottenham singer on why three years is a long time in pop Neds: Peter Mullan …

New Music – Fixers, Meadhbh Boyd, Bouts

The latest New Music selections from the On The Record column in tomorrow’s edition of The Ticket. All tips for future New Music picks welcome below. Fixers Further proof of Oxford’s growing status as a fertile creative hotbed as Fixers …

Eurosonic 2011 – we have lift-off

Greetings from Groningen, the lovely Dutch city which has become a January must-visit for OTR thanks to the annual Eurosonic festival and its showcase of new European acts. For the next few nights, festival bookers, radio programmers, agents, promoters, media …

The Naked & Famous, Dublin, March

Heads up about one of our fave new bands on their way to Baile Atha Cliath. We’re hearing that The Naked & Famous, the New Zealand band behind the excellent “Young Blood” tune from last year, are playing Dublin’s Crawdaddy …

Here’s the Choice Music Prize shortlist, folks

The 10 albums on Choice Music Prize shortlist for Irish Album of the Year 2010 are: Adebesi Shank “This is the Second Album of a band called Adebisi Shank” (Richter Collective) The Cast of Cheers “Chariot” (Self release) Cathy Davey …

The Far Side – playlist for January 11

As played on The Far Side, Phantom 105.2, Tuesday January 11. Listen Again to The Far Side: you can listen back to a stream of last night’s show here. Martyn/Slott “All Nights” (All City) Glasser “Mirrorage (Lindstrom remix)” (True Panther) …

Farewell to the Meteors

There are few people other than Westlife who are likely to miss the Meteor Music Awards. Almost every year, the Westlife lads would turn up, smile for the cameras and go home with another clatter of gongs for the collection. …

The band who said no

There is at least one band out there who have decided to say no to the usual malarkey which accompanies a new album release. This band have decided that their forthcoming new album will not feature remixes, bonus tracks, corporate …

What shops have to do when their products go digital

Some of you may already have read my piece from Saturday’s Irish Times about how stores selling books and music will have to find new ways to attract customers through the doors if they are going to survive in an …

Music’s lost and found department

Hats off to Krissi Murison. At a time of year when most publications got through the quiet news days of December by reviewing 2010 or previewing 2011 (or, indeed, doing both), the NME editor came up with a perfect wheeze …

Now Playing – the sounds of the week

This week’s essential tunes and albums on the OTR jukebox. Please feel free to add your own selections below. Nicolas Jaar “Space Is Only Noise” (Circus Company) Breathtaking debut album of soulful, haunting, warm-hearted electronics from the New York based …

This week in The Ticket – and your plugs

Helena Bonham Carter: tipped for an Oscar nod for her role in Tom Hooper’s The King’s Speech, the great English eccentric talks crowns and corsets with Tara Brady White Lies: Lauren Murphy attempts to interview the band without mentioning Joy …

New Music – Mr Little Jeans, Glass Vaults, Black Robots

The latest New Music selections from the On The Record column in tomorrow’s edition of The Ticket. All tips for future New Music picks welcome below. Glass Vaults Beautiful slow-motion ambient textures and tones from Manawatu, New Zealand duo Richard …

Glad to be GAA – from Galvinised to The Club

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a GAA player in possession of some spare cash and looking for some decent casual clobber must be in want of a pair of bootleg jeans (usually from Jack & Jones). Someone obviously …

The Far Side – playlist for January 4

As played on The Far Side, Phantom 105.2, Tuesday January 4. Listen Again to The Far Side: you can listen back to a stream of last night’s show here. Badgal Bambi “Ethiopian Attack (1895)” (Red Square) Florrie “Give Me Your …

Putting a shape on 2011

There are some traditions which you shouldn’t mess with. With the fourth estate, it’s customary to spend December looking at the year that was and January looking at the year that’s ahead. Seeing as I’ve spent the Christmas break adhering …