August 2011
1 post
1 tag
This Blog has Moved!
But never fear because we’re not too far away. We’ve only moved to the Internet next door (sometimes named Wordpress)
Although Tumblr was my original home, for a long while this site has been nothing more than a mirror of the full-on Mother-blog which be found on Wordpress.
We’ve had fun here, mainly by missing out vowls, and it’s sad that I have to leave - but I must.
...
January 2011
1 post
5 tags
Albums of 2010
Welcome along blog fans, and welcome into the first few days of another shiny new decade. We’ve left behind what has been another enjoyable and emotional year and, as is common at this time of year (and last year), I will be doing a round up of sorts detailing what I believe to be the best of all the musical offerings in 2010.
So, head over to the Mother-Blog on Wordpress now to see my top 10...
September 2010
1 post
9 tags
Review: Alex Cornish - Call Back
So, the holidays are over, the kids are back at school and the weather is closing in. This can only mean one thing for you lovely blog-botherers, and that is the return of Mainly Genius.
First, an(other) apology. Whilst I had intended to take a break over the summer months, I admit that I did it rather abruptly and without prior warning. This, coupled with the fact that my Lyrics of the Week...
June 2010
2 posts
8 tags
Review: Tom Stephens - Division (EP)
Before we go anywhere I must offer my apologies for my lack of recent posting. As is often the case during the summer months, I’ve been away having much fun and neglecting this blog. But I’m here now and before I leave you all again, I’ve managed squeeze in a little gem for your listening pleasure. And the good news is that’s totally free.
Today’s offering comes from the guitar of...
7 tags
Lyrics of the Week #5: Elbow - Station Approach
As the 5th in an ever-expanding set, I felt this week’s edition of Lyrics of the Week (or LOTW #5, if you prefer) needed to be a bit more upbeat. Not necessarily happy or overtly positive, but something that’s not about love. To that end I have settled upon Manchester band Elbow as the band of choice and in particular, their song Station Approach.
It’s taken from the 2005 album Leaders of the...
May 2010
8 posts
10 tags
Lyrics of the Week #4: Bon Iver - Re: Stacks
Those of you with a finger in the general music pie will have noticed the slice that consists of folk music (or influences thereof) has had huge surge in popularity over the last 2-3 years. Some have cleverly named it “nu-folk” (after a certain metal scene some may recall from the start of the last decade) and, with the recent, inexplicable rise of acts such as Ellie Goulding, it seems that it is...
5 tags
Review: The Rebs - In a Heartbeat
A few weeks back I attended my first gig outside of the capital for a long while and, whilst I didn’t expect to be disappointed, it’s fair to say my expectations were lower than usual. Someone once said that when it comes to music, London is the place to be and although it may be where most record labels are situated, an energetic and marvellous performance from Southampton based band (and last...
9 tags
Review: Exit Calm - Exit Calm
Rewind back to 2006 and Exit Calm hardly existed. Struggling local heroes that had yet to approach anything resembling the big time and, after a sudden break-up, lacking a front man and a leader.
But come screaming back into the present and Exit Calm are on their way up fast. They’ve found an excellent frontman in Nicky Smith and after releasing their self-titled debut last Monday (17th May),...
7 tags
Lyrics of the Week #3: Alberta Cross - Ghost of...
This week’s marvellous instalment comes from New York based rock band Alberta Cross and, more specifically their excellent 2009 debut album Broken Side of Time. It combines elements of country, pop and straight-ahead rock to form a refreshing and upbeat album that is one of those records you find that you keep playing.
The only song on the album that isn’t upbeat however, is where we get the...
10 tags
Review: Roky Erickson & Okkervil River - True Love...
Okkervil River are a great band. As a fan for a couple of years now, it’s always exciting when they release new material.
Their 2005 album Black Sheep Boy is a prime example of their quirky, twisted pop-rock sound and is rightly considered their masterpiece. Songs such as The Latest Toughs and For Real conjure real interest with their slightly left-of-centre lyrics and almost lo-fi production....
Lyrics of the Week #2: The Boxer Rebellion -...
Yep, week two has arrived already and I’ve not got bored of this series just yet. This week’s entry comes from Mainly Genius favourites The Boxer Rebellion. They’re the band that words such as “spacious” and “really fucking massive area-sized rock” were made for (as my review of 2nd album Union will attest).
So why this song? Well for a start, the song itself is corker. Starting with...
4 tags
Lyrics of the Week #1: Simon & Garfunkel - Sound...
So as is traditional, let’s kick off with week one. Today’s entry comes from folk greats Simon & Garfunkel, with these words specifically written by Paul Simon. Lifted from their breakthrough 1966 album of the same name, Sound of Silence is one of those fantastically simple and awe-inspiring songs. The haunting electric guitar (interestingly not composed by Simon) sets a bleak outlook, which...
My New 'Thing' and Some Upcoming Reviews
First of all readers, an apology. My university career has been a stress-filled and busy place of late, but I can happily report that I have come through unscathed and now near the finish line for three years of hard work. All this however, has caused some neglect to my writings and for that I am sorry. But never fear friends because I have returned and to mark this moderately notable occasion...
March 2010
3 posts
7 tags
Review: Dark Mean - Music Box (EP)
They say nothing in life is free but fortunately for us they’re wrong. As long as you discount the cost of buying a computer and connecting it to the Internet, Canadian indie-pop band Dark Mean’s most recent offering Music Box is just that. I first came across Dark Mean via Eaten by Monsters last year, happily downloaded their first EP frankencottage, and ever since I’ve been waiting for an...
3 tags
South By Southwest 2010
Here’s a novelty: me talking about something up-to-date and cool. In fact, either would warrant stopping the presses (or at least suspending them for a short time) and, as reviews of Kate Bush and Simple Minds will attest, it’s not often that I find myself on the cusp of musical trendiness.
However, today is different. Starting this Wednesday is the South By Southwest (SXSW) music & film...
6 tags
Review: The Black Atlantic - Reverence For Fallen...
Some of you may have noticed that it’s been a while since I posted here and that is, in part, down to the fact that there simply hasn’t been anything that inspiring recently. However, it’s also because I’ve become a bit more focused on discovering, and thus reviewing, newer or relatively unknown material. There’s something to be said for seeing a CD hit number one in the charts, but nothing beats...
February 2010
2 posts
4 tags
Audio: Delphic - Clarion Call
Pounding, call-to arms opener taken from Delphic’ debut album Acolyte.
By combining all the right elements of Electro, Rock and Pop, Delphic have produced an excellent debut album of which this is just the start. Singles Counterpoint and Doubt are as good, but neither sound as impassioned or swagger quite as much as this one.
Listen to Clarion Call by Delphic on the Mother-Blog at...
Review: Delphic - Acolyte
At last it’s well and truly over, at least for another year. Christmas and New Year is always a hectic and fairly misshapen time of year but as we’re well into February, it’s time for things to return to normal and, more importantly, time for some shiny new reviews.
First up is the debut album Acolyte by electronic-indie band Delphic , a band recently voted into a BBC poll for the ‘Sound of...
January 2010
3 posts
3 tags
Review of 2009: Part Two – Artists of 2009
Welcome to part two of our look back over 2009, continuing on from part one, the Albums of the 2009.
These are what I consider to be the eight artists who’ve had the best year regardless of what music they released in 2009. As before, the best are towards the top but there’s not really any strict order.
Anyway, all the action is over at the mother-blog on Wordpress. Simply head over there to...
9 tags
A Mumford & Sons Free Download
Those of you who read my Albums of 2009 article will know that I really liked Mumford & Sons and their debut album Sigh No More.
I’m happy to report that they’ve made excellent non-album track Sister available for free on musicglue.com
To get Sister, simply visit the Free Stuff section of the mother-blog on Wordpress where you can get hold of it and other various freebies.
And...
3 tags
Review of 2009: Part One – Albums of 2009
So it’s that time of the year again and it has been for a while. It’s time for us to take a musical look back at 2009’s best moments.
The ‘Review of Year’ format has been around forever and has been done to death, but I think I can squeeze a few more in.
For the first part of the review of 2009, I’ll be picking out what I believe are the albums of the year. They’re not strictly in order and...
December 2009
6 posts
2 tags
A Festive Update
Just a quick one to inform you, my loyal readers, that I haven’t forgotten about you but I’ve simply been busy over this Festive period.
Rest assured articles and reviews are being written and early next year (possibly before) I will unveil a series of exciting posts looking back at all of 2009’s best musical offerings.
Until then, please enjoy the seasonal satire to your...
5 tags
Guest Review: Paolo Nutini – Sunny Side Up
Those who heard Paolo Nutini’s 2006 debut breakthrough These Streets heard a 19 year old with a big future. Acoustic-based singer-songwriters aren’t hard to come by, but Paolo’s accent, rock band set-up, and good looks set him apart and gained him media coverage and plenty of adoring fans.
But its 2009, and he’s on the difficult second album. Still only 22, after success with singles such as Last...
3 tags
'Idiot Writes About Popular High-Street Clothes...
A short while ago I was asked if I would contribute a short something to the excellent Youtune music blog, by the editor over there. Youtune isn’t just about the music but is also concerned with the author’s feelings and memories associated with a particular song.
The tagline sums it up nicely: “These are your tunes, and your meanings”. Told you.
It’s slightly...
4 tags
The Flaming Lips - Race For The Prize
Taken from...
Review: The Flaming Lips - The Soft Bulletin
1999 was a fairly boring year in the grand, musical scheme of things. Notable releases came from old hats Blur and The Red Hot Chili Peppers and it also was the year that broke Sigur Ros and Eminem. But unless you’re an Eiffel 65 fan, that’s about it.
Fortunately for us however, 1999 was also the year that The Flaming Lips chose to release The Soft Bulletin and, ten years on, it still sounds just...
Moving Home
Just a short message to keep you guys in the loop, and let you know that this blog has moved to it’s new home on Wordpress. Nothing against Tumblr, I just feel like Wordpress is my spiritual home! This site will of course continue to be updated, but the focus will be elsewhere and the posts on here will likely consist of simple re-posts of the content which can be found at...
November 2009
9 posts
3 tags
Review: Editors – In This Light And On This...
Ok, try to picture the scene. You’d burst onto the music scene with your critically acclaimed debut album, you’d then followed that up with a shiny, well-produced second album and now you need to release a third one push up to the next level. What do you do?
Well if you’re in Editors, you break out the synths and release In This Light and On This Evening.
Unfortunately, the 80s revival doesn’t...
NPR: Live Concerts From All Songs Considered... →
This second link is called the NPR: Live Concerts From All Songs Considered Podcast and contains live performances from it’s sister podcast All Songs Considered. As with the previous link, it has a huge selection of artists all of which are available for free.
NPR is short for National Public Radio and as you would expect, they also offer a variety of other podcasts, all of which are...
KEXP Live Performances Podcast →
No review this time round I’m afraid, that’ll come along over the coming week. Instead I offer a couple of excellent podcasts that I recently discovered.
Both feature high quality live sets and interviews from some great bands and to top it all off, are available for free on iTunes.
This first link is the KEXP Live Performances Podcast and is pretty self-explanatory.
It’s...
2 tags
Long Dead Signal - Red Lines
Taken from the...
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Review: Long Dead Signal – Long Dead Signal
Sometimes it’s fate that brings people together and I’d like to think that I was introduced to Long Dead Signal by a similar method. At a guess, I’d say that most of you are not familiar with their self-titled debut EP and, were it not for a chance encounter only two months ago, neither would I be.
Whilst I was attending a function in Nottingham, these guys played an excellent set and,...
3 tags
The Boxer Rebellion - Soviets
Taken from the...
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Review: Boxer Rebellion – Union
Before we begin, a heartwarming tale:
In 2003, The Boxer Rebellion looked set for big things. They played ahead of Keane at Glastonbury, signed with Britpop supremo Alan McGee and won themselves a support slot with The Killers.
But just as things were taking off, lead singer Nathan Nicholson became very ill and the band was forced to suspend all activities, including touring.
Fast-forward two...
3 tags
Rural Life - 'Yours, Eli' - Free Download Now... →
Further to my earlier review, I am delighted to say I can now offer a free download of Rural Life’s excellent track Yours, Eli.
It’s the third track taken from their debut EP, It Was Me, It Was You, It Was About Saying Goodbye, and is a great example of their simple arrangement and uncomplicated production allowing the song to shine through.
Make sure you check them out at...
October 2009
7 posts
Simple Minds - Stars Will Lead The Way
Third...
2 tags
Review: Simple Minds - Graffiti Soul
So Simple Minds are back with a new album, their first in twenty years. The first since they stopping making music after releasing decade defining hit, Don’t You (Forget About Me), in 1984. Right? Well no, actually. Don’t You (Forget About Me) was released in 1984 but, after a cursory glance at one of the internet’s most reliable encyclopedias, it transpires that Simple Minds never split up or...
Rural Life - Yours, Eli
Third track taken from...
Review: Rural Life - It Was Me, It Was You, It Was...
Rural Life is a group who have been with me for a while but about whom I’ve never succeeded in writing. I’m ashamed to say that despite being on my iTunes for a little under five months, I never really allowed them a fair portion of listening time until recent weeks. For those of you who’ve never had the pleasure it’s about time you bucked up your ideas. It Was Me, It Was You, It Was About Saying...
Kate Bush - And Dream of Sheep
Taken’ from...
4 tags
Review: Kate Bush - Hounds of Love
Although it might say ‘review’ at the summit of this post, in true Kate Bush style I would feel more inclined to refer to it as a collection of thoughts or an anthology of musings. If it’s star ratings you’re looking for then there could some disappointment in store. (What I’m doing here, is covering my own back. In case what I produce over the next few hundred words, is horseshit). Thankfully,...
