Lee's Hits In Your Ears

#grmlnshits

GRMLN, Japanese-American lad called Yoodoo Park (with band). I ‘discovered’ him/them just this year and when checking out the back catalogue there were nearly a dozen albums released since 2012, I think prolific is the word. And not only are all of them brilliant they all sound different but heavily influenced by bands that I also love. ‘Discovery’ could actually be a Strokes album, then there’s others that have Wild Nothing vibes, hints of French Films. Just lots of hits.

*this might change over time as I’m still exploring but these are the initial hits that make it on to the playlist.

The Long Blondes – Someone To Drive You Home (2006)

The Long Blondes, five piece indie-pop/new wave band from Sheffield, fronted by Kate Jackson. Saw them a couple of times, both in Ox. At Brookes Uni, think it was some sort of NME ‘introducing’ gig and downstairs at the Zodiac (when it was the small venue for hip kids). Pretty much was all over them from their first EP! As I said, hip kid.

Dead Man’s Bones – S/T (2009)

Dead Man’s Bones, are an goth rock/indie/folk duo. Zach Shields and some other bloke you might have heard of, Ryan Gosling. Was on the band wagon way back in the MySpace days when a couple of demos first appeared.

Stellastarr* – S/T

Stellastarr, from NYC. Indie-rock/new wave kind of stuff. Saw them at the Zodiac back in the day, top gigging.

#brandnewshits

Brand New, from Long Island New York. Emo/Rock/Pop-Punk sort of stuff. Put on a helluva show daaan Landan Taan of a summers eve.

Brendan Benson – Lapalco (2002)

Brendan Benson, singer-song writer of Indie pop/folk ditties. Big friends with Jack White (White Stripes) with whom he formed Raconteurs with. Have seen him live endless times, like 3 times one summer, including a gig in Oxford that was cancelled half way through when the rood started leaking from a torrential thunder shower – we all got evacuated and we stood next to him in the kebab shop next to the the Zodiac.

January 2021

2020 was a bunch of bollocks, right? 2021 probably will too. But let’s kick it off in style with the #latesthits that’ll pumping through my fancy new bluetooth headphones this month.

#thestrokeshits

The Strokes, Indie rock band from New York, fronted by Julian Casablancas. Seen them a few times live, including a drive down to Cardiff and back in one night in which they didn’t come on stage until gone 10 (after a 2 hour delay, reason unknown) then played until nearly midnight. That was a tough drive home, I’d only passed my test a few months before.

Jimmy Eat World – Bleed American (2001)

#rilokileyshits

Rilo Kiley, fronted by Jenny Lewis from LA. Sort of Indie folk/pop, formed all the way back in 1998. Got a bit shit towards the latter years which is unfortunately when I finally got to see them live, after a gig I had tickets to see them during their pomp in Oxford was cancelled.