the only way to survive Black Friday

Happy Black Friday! (said by no-one ever)

So, it appears this retail gimmick is now an actual thing here to stay. If you can't beat them and you don't want to join them, then hidden within the links to the following post lies a selection of amazing, yet tenuously related songs to help you make it through the Black Friday madness.

If you were up at midnight in the sheer black of night to surf the shelves of the internet then by now you'll probably need a coffee to keep those heavy eyes awake and revitalise those fingers to type in your card details for the umpteenth time. The question is - do you prefer it black or white?

As I write this I'm trying to understand the logic of those people who woke up this morning pumped and ready to go in search of more stuff they probably don't need. I love a big TV as much as the next person but who wants to buy a cheaper model coloured red or blue when you'll most likely want to always go back to black.

Even stores such as Homebase are getting in on the act so if you see a red door today, you do have the power to paint it black, and at a ridiculously silly price too.

If you happen to come across a wild scary mob getting a little too excited in the supermarket aisles today, try calming yourself by imagining a supermassive black hole for them to fall into.

Unfortunately unless you have a little black submarine to hide in, I'm afraid you won't be able to escape the Black Friday frenzy. It's all around us and will be here for many more years to come.

My advice to you all is to download all these songs onto your personal musical device of choice and go find that deal you never wanted before the black hole sun sets in the sky later on today.

the only way to start your Monday morning

Last night I joined Rick Witter and Matt Williamson on the excellent Disco Down radio show on Minster FM. In case you missed it, here's the three selections to look out for in November. If you were lucky enough to hear it, here's a reminder with links to the songs for your audio pleasure.

What more can you ask for on a grey and miserable Monday morning than some quality tunes to brighten your day?

Beg, Borrow or stream 

BEG
Clean Cut Kid - Runaway 

Single available to stream now
 

One to stream this month is the single 'Runaway' from the latest band to grace our airwaves from the wonderful city of Liverpool.

 

Clearly proud of their roots, Clean Cut Kid describe their music as 'soulful pop ballads, washed in Mersey water'. I've made the very unscientific conclusion that the band view Mersey Water as a super power designed to make all music better - think holy water for music. This has got me thinking that perhaps it's no coincidence The Beatles grew up around the Mersey and they themselves may have thrown their instruments off the ferry across the Mersey before they became the best band in the world. Thanks to Clean Cut Kid's amazing discovery, there's a danger we could see future up and coming bands making a pilgrimage to dangle their toes in the Mersey while they busk a version of Help on their acoustic guitars? Or perhaps not.

 

Anyways, back to the music and the single 'Runaway' will please all those in search of a slice of positive indie pop to brighten up the darkest of November nights. It might not be the greatest single you've heard all year but I definitely think it's one to stream and worth listening out for the earlier single 'Vitamin C' too.

With a debut album not due until next year, you can hear more material from the band when they play live across the UK before Christmas including Brudenell Social Club in Leeds on 6 December.

 

BORROW
Fronteers - 'It's up to me now'
Single out November 13

Continuing the theme of new bands to look out for in 2016, here's a new single from a very exciting and talented new band from Hull called Fronteers. Rather impressively they've only been playing gigs since the beginning of the year and they're already starting to get some positive media attention. Fronteers are Andy Towse and James Taylor - vocals/guitar, Ellis Keogh on bass and Lloyd Tuton on drums. These four lads definitely fall into the category of ones to sit up and take notice of.

 

Lead singer Andy Towse continues a time honoured indie tradition of writing about real life, and this single was written at a time when he lost a decent job and had people telling him that being in a band doesn't pay. So in 'It's up to me now' he wrote about doing it anyway 'because you want to.'

 

If you like what you hear, I'd strongly recommend you clicking on the link and listening to their debut release 'Youth' which was released back in August.

The band have just finished supporting Blossoms and Pretty Vicious on tour. With much anticipation surrounding them I suggest you keep tabs on announcements for their first headline tour and catch them in a nice intimate venue while you get the chance.

BEG

King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard - 'Paper Mache Dream Balloon' 

Album out Friday 13 November
 

I think I've truly saved the best until last this month and Fronteers takes some beating. Contenders for the greatest/strangest band name of all time, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard are a seven piece psychedelic garage band from Melbourne, Australia.

 

They're an industrial bunch of lads, who return this month with their seventh album in just over three years. For the uninitiated, their new release 'Paper Mache Dream Balloon' is a welcoming glimpse into their crazy musical world. The album's title track of the same name sounds like the perfect accompaniment to a summer's walk in the park, while elsewhere on the album, the song 'Trap Door' takes a bizarre psychedelic turn as the band repeatedly sing the words 'Trap Door' over a flute solo. Fans of MGMT's second album will particularly enjoy this.
 

Quite simply, your senses will appreciate you taking a trip on this Paper Mache Dream Balloon. Sadly there's no immediate tour plans in the diary for the UK but you can beg or indeed bag yourself a ride with the album when it arrives on these shores on November 13th.