Thomas Connell - Trying To Roll Me

Linked Fixed!!!!!
If you're a Bob Dylan fan, as Tom obviously is, then you'll like this catchy acoustic number. The 28 year-old is from Glasgow and likes Guinness (the real deal, not the Extra Cold stuff).

Tom plays the odd coffee house open-mic night around the city and often acts as a support act at King Tut's Wah Wah Hut - one of the best live venues in the UK (its claim to fame is that Oasis were 'discovered' there by Alan McGhee on 31st May 1993).

Add a comment to let me know if you want to hear any more of him.

No Introduction Required

Time for some classic songs from albums that I think everybody should have:

Queen - We Are The Champions
Queen consistently released high quality albums for well over 20 years. Enough ranting - here's an anthem from the 1977 album News Of The World, and is used as a chant for one lucky team per sport, per league, per year.

This is something that really pisses me off about current artist's releases - they need to realise that every song on an album should be great, not just 2 or 3 singles and a load of crap tracks to fill up the time to beyond the 30 minute mark. If I buy the first album of any artist and it's full of half-assed tracks then you can be sure I won't be buying the next - bang goes the artist's longevity. Am I alone in this???

Live - I Alone
Rant over - here's a great track from Live's best album Throwing Copper.
Live rose to chart success on the strength of its anthemic music and idealistic, overtly spiritual songwriting, two hallmarks which have earned the group frequent comparisons to U2 which can't be bad.

Skirtbox - For This Alone

Something a bit LOUDER today: If you like rock with 80's guitar solos, you'll love these tracks.

Skirtbox - Swedish Pink
Skirtbox are a London band who have been together for seven years. They have released their first music video titled For this Alone from their forthcoming album Bitter and Direct will be available from Allstar Recordings from the end of September.

Skirtbox - Not For Me
Keep your eyes peeled for them on MTV2 and other music channels in the near future.

Skirtbox - Maybe
Skirtbox - Heading
For information on the band and pictures, or to buy the album visit: skirtbox.com

Other tracks (indirect links):
Skirtbox - Minky Xpress
Skirtbox - Speared Love
Skirtbox - Star of Deathlehem

Duke Special - Kill Me

Something of a rarity, a truly original musician, in the shape of Peter Wilson who goes by the name of Duke Special (formerly of Booley and Benzine Headset). All he needs is for some unblinkered record label boss to turn him into the next David Gray.

Duke Special - As Good As It Gets
You can order the EP's Lucky Me and My Villain Heart direct via Paypal here.

Duke Special - I Let You Down
You can also download three songs featuring Duke Special on lead vocals - these were written by Ben Hales (ex of Ruth, The 45's) whose brother is Matt Hales (AKA Aqualung who Duke supported on the 2 tours).

Ben Hales - Like I Need You (ft Duke Special)
Ben Hales - So Fine (ft Duke Special)
Ben Hales - ¡Hey! (ft Duke Special)

Nizlopi - Girls

Luke (Concannon - vocals, guitar & percussion) and John (Parker - double bass) met on a bus when they were thirteen. This marked the beginning of a long-standing friendship and musical collaboration whose offbeat touching lyrics are paired with a unique sound inspired by a myriad of disparate influences. They emanate
energy, passion and power in sound that sends your skin tingling. Their debut album Half These Songs Are About You has spent an unprecedented ten weeks at number one in the National Unsigned Network Chart and has been featured on both Radio One and Two.

Nizlopi (Live)
(sorry I dont know the track name for this)

Add to that appearances at two of Europes biggest and most prestigious music festivals, Glastonbury and the Big Green Gathering where audiences were totally wowed by each and every performance. Whether in a small and intimate club or a huge auditorium Nizlopi believe in "eliminating the gap between performer and listener". Expect them to unplug and get out there face to face with their audience - a truly awe inspiring experience.

Fear Of Music - The Waltz

Yes, it's a waltz about a waltz, and the (unsigned) band are only in their early to mid teens. Steve Lamacq has played them on Radio 1, the NME are on board with a feature, and they've had strong local media support too (they're from Manchester).

They play on home ground at Tmesis on Sunday 19th September (onstage 10pm), plus an 'unofficial' gig at Bierkeller the night before.

Primary - Sirmintol 50

Primary are an unsigned band from North London, and this track is full of indie-pop goodness and apparently is about to be released.

They play at 42nd Street in Manchester on Monday 20 September, onstage 8.15pm.

P.S. I don't know how long either of these links will last

The Bravery - Honest Mistake

80s synth rock it is, but we'll forgive them as there's a hint of Joy Division in there as well, and a decent chorus & good lyrics. I've been informed that they've just signed to Loog/Polydor for Europe and IDJ for the US.

The Bravery - Fearless

The Bravery - No Brakes

Franz Ferdinand - Take Me Out

Congrats to my compatriots, Franz Ferdinand, on their victory in last night's Mercury Music Prize. Actually I was a bit annoyed cos I had a tenner on fellow Scots Belle & Sebastian to win at rather good odds, in fact I was probably as peed-off as Trevor Horn (B&S producer) seemed after the announcement.

Belle & Sebastian - I'm A Cuckoo

Buy the B&S album Dear Catastrophe Waitress.

It was a good representation from Scotland with Snow Patrol's Final Straw also in the final twelve.

Snow Patrol - Run

Here's a tip: You get 3 bonus tracks on the Aussie version of Franz Ferdinand - at a price, inevitably.

The Hamburg Cell

Watched some of this dramatisation regarding the September 11th 2001 hijackers on Channel 4 last night before it got so boring I switched off, but it gave me an idea for todays songs. It's nearly 3 years later, let us never forget...

Everybody's into Bush-bashing at the moment but here's a reminder that he dealt with this pretty well at the time, despite what you think of his subsequent actions - although I do think this mix would be better without Bush on it:
REM - Everybody Hurts (WTC Tribute)

This starts with *that* haunting answering machine message:
Eric Clapton - Tears In Heaven (WTC Tribute)

And to finish one of my favourite songs from one of my favourite bands:
Live - Lightning Crashes (WTC Tribute)

I'm not a US citizen but the enormity & impact was no less felt here in the UK. The live footage of the towers collapsing from the top down is without a doubt the most disturbing thing I have ever seen. I'll always remember where I was and who I was with - I remember being... well... just stunned.