Top Five: Welsh Bands

Ah, Wales. Home to one of the worlds best accents, as well as some of the best rock music that the UK is currently creating, in my humble opinion. These are my five favourites, in order, which was a harder task than you might imagine.

5. Kids In Glass Houses
Despite what I may have written in a recent blog belonging to the Music Guru, I do actually like the music of KIGH, I just find them to be a little bit samey and predictable, but you can not deny them of their ability to create high quality music.
Check these out:
Me, Me, Me (Give Me What I Want)
Saturday
Easy Tiger

4. The Automatic
Specifically the 'Not Accepted Anywhere' era. I had forgotten how much I used to be in love with this album, until one of the songs came up on a music shuffle. Back in the days when people actually listened to CDs, this album was almost constantly in the stereo, when I wasn't having a boyband moment, or at least until the next exciting CD turned up. Not so much of a fan of their later works.
Check these out:
That's What She Said
Recover
Seriously... I Hate You Guys

3. Lostprophets
Specifically, NOT 'The Betrayed' era. This band used to be awesome. Now they suck. I do not want to dwell on this any further, so lets move on.
Check these out:
Last Train Home
A Town Called Hypocrisy
Burn, Burn

2. Funeral For A Friend
I'm quite a late jumper on the FFAF train, not appreciating their true awesomeness until I saw them live for the first time. I think it is a bit of a crime that there are so many people on this earth who have no idea who these guys are, partly because of their musical genuis, but also because they seem like genuinely nice chaps.
Check these out:
Escape Artists Never Die
Into Oblivion
Streetcar

1. The Blackout
I remember the first time I saw this band very clearly - it is a day that will stick out in my mind for possibly the rest of my life. I'm not gonna lie to you all, the first time I saw these dudes live, I was about as far from impressed as you could get. However, luckily for me, the band featured as the support act for many gigs I attended following this, which allowed me to give the band a second (and third and fourth... )chance and they are now my favourite bunch of Welshies.
Check these out:
It's High Tide Baby
Children Of The Night
I'm A Riot, You're A F*cking Riot

Top Five: The Blackout

I rather love The Blackout. I have seen them live many, many times, most usually as tour support for the likes of Fightstar (expect them to have their own post soon!) and Lostprophets - There is something about the cheeky, hyper, welsh lads that make me want to come keep coming back for more. I also like the fact that they repeat their MySpace address and the fact they are from South Wales a LOT. The last time I saw them they had dialled this down a lot, but still managed to mention where they hailed from about three times. As if their accents did not clearly give this away. I also like the fact that even though they have released one EP (with one of the best names EVER) and two albums, they are still relatively unknown, although fiercely supported, and therefore get to appear at festivals and small venues. Wikipedia describes their genre as post hardcore, which although I have no idea what that is supposed to mean, also (apparently) includes the likes of those mentioned before as tour headliners, so I guess it is a fairly apt description.

Anyway, here is a list of my five favourite songs of theirs, just in case you feel inclined to check them out, which you should by the by. In the words of someone who hails from the home country of The Blackout: "I prefer their older stuff" but "they are meant to be very good live". Personal joke there. Still makes me laugh. Anyway, back to the countdown. Focus, Emma!

5. It's High Tide Baby featuring Ian Watkins - from the EP "The Blackout! The Blackout! The Blackout!"

4. Fashion Concious Suicide - from the EP "The Blackout! The Blackout! The Blackout!"

3. I'm A Riot, You're A F*cking Riot - from the EP "The Blackout! The Blackout! The Blackout!"

2. Children Of The Night - from the album "The Best In Town!"

1. I Know You Are, But What Am I? - from the album "We Are The Dynamite"

Music Vids

Craig David - One More Lie

Mr David is back. He keeps disappearing and making comebacks. I do own everything he has released, but I am not sure a comeback is due. He isn't doing anything that no-one else could do. But it's always good to see a familiar face.

Friday Night Boys - Disney Medley

Who doesn't love Disney songs? Who doesn't love sweet, (not so) lil boys singing along while playing the piano? Okay, so this is definitely a girlie video.

Friday Night Boys - Stupid Love Letter

To balance out the girlieness. Or at least make some vague attempt to. Although this video also appears to be a promo for what looks suspiciously like a rom-com. So maybe it fails on that count. The fan girls are brilliant though.

Jason Derulo - In My Head

For some reason, I am highly amused when videos, particularly R&B ones, start off the beginning of a music video by playing music from a completely different song. Promo for two songs in one = genius and very economical.

The Blackout - Children Of The Night

To celebrate the fact I am going to see them tomorrow. Woop Woop!