The Indie Anthology 71: essential songs

Back with our Anthology and more than ready to write down our humble tribute to one hell of a band, with a long and superb career that, inexplicably, has always been ranked as a "second-class" act. Sit down, get your headphones on and waltz around with one of the greatest pop groups. Here's James calling!

Song: Runaground
Artist: James
Year: 1998

A tone of anthemic tunes, a zillion of immediate, contagious pop hooks, a killer live show (please come back to Barcelona soon!), a superb frontman with an incredible voice in the charismatic Tim Booth (from the sweetest melancholy to the most exhilarating joy in a matter of seconds). I will never understand why James has never made it into these ubiquitious "best-of-lists" (not even close of the top positions and, I'm afraid, a rather-to-vastly unknown band outside UK). They have everything and proved it on a very constant basis for many many years. I discovered them by the time 'The best of...' came out, with my brother and I getting so impressed with tunes like 'She's a star' or 'Runaground' we recorded them in as many "Compilation Music Clips" (those were the VHS times, kids) as we could. I'm choosing 'Runaground' it partly because it was the first one that got me completely, and partly because I simply cannot choose in which James' tune is my favourite. That guitar line, the growing tension, the way Booth sings, and how it explodes... Here was a band in which you could (can) hear hints of R.E.M.'s, U2, Pulp, The Smiths, Housemartins, the Britpop's efervescence, Madchester... altogether without being exactly any of them. They were and still are (which is amazing) exciting. And I'm sure they will as long as they want. Long live James!

These Go to 11: interviewing The Treasures of Mexico

And here comes another great musician answering our questionnaire. Today we have the pleasure of having Mark Matthews, formerly on the amazing The Dentists and now leading the terrific The Treasures of Mexico. A lot of indiepop, you'll see. These Go to 11!

The Treasures of Mexico, indiepop hunters

Mark Matthews, The Treasures of Mexico
Do you remember The Dentists? If not, write down the name and add it to your "things-to-do" list, because they were a great, shamefully underrated jangle-pop band from Chatham, UK, active from 1984 to 1995. The combo disbanded, but former founder members Mark Matthews and Bob Collins kept very active in bands like Coax, Fortress Madonna, The Great Lines, The Claim... involving themselves into side projects and contributions until Mark began The Treasures of Mexico alongside Bob and Russ Baxter from Secret Affair, coming out with one of favourite records of 2015, the magnificent 'Holding Pattern', an effervescent and hyper addictive jangle-pop treaty, out digitally via our dear friends from Shelflife. With a follow-up in the works while their members keep themselves busy (with Bob Collins and the Full Nelson, World Beginning With X, Stuart Turner and The Flat Earth Society) all we can say is: cheers to the great musicians who never give up! Here we go!

1.First record that you bought (be honest)

The Flinstones goes punk!

Ok so the first record I bought with my own money was an LP by The Rezillos called 'Can't Stand The Rezillos'. I saved up, and had to cycle twice to a very small shop in the housing estate that was Twydall, where they had to order it. I think they only usually carried the Top 20. I saw The Rezillos on Top of the Pops performing their song 'Top of the Pops' and I just thought they were incredible. They looked like the cast of the Flintstones and sounded like a cross between punk (which I was too young to appreciate really) and glam rock, and the band were just whizzing about on stage like demented puppets, singing 'everybody's on Top of the Pops' which I didn't understand but liked the sentiment of. The LP is a gem, full of hooky power pop and from that I discovered the previous singles including 'Can't Stand My Baby' which is probably my favourite Rezillos song. 

Before 'Pirates of the Caribbean'... there were the Ants

2. First and last concert you have attended (be honest too!)
First un-chaperoned concert was probably The Monochrome Set at the YMCA in Tottenham Court Rd, London. Andy Warren had just left Adam & the Ants to play bass in the MS, and loads of Ants punks turned up to chant 'Ants! Ants! Ants!' at him every time there was a break between songs. He remains a bass playing hero. Last concert I bought a ticket for was probably The Luxembourg Signal in Brighton, if you discount local bands.

Madonna gets electronic

3. Guilty pleasure (song/band you shouldn’t like but you do, yes, it’s the embarrassing question)

Guiltiest is probably later Madonna - I especially like 'Ray of Light' and 'Music' but let's keep that to ourselves.

4. Most precious music item you own (collector mode on)

Would be my 1978 Rickenbacker bass instrument wise, and record wise I would say Blueboy by Orange Juice 45 on the Postcard label.

5.Favorite lyrics (not yours)
So many....'I dreamt about you last night and I fell out of bed twice', (Smiths), heard for the first time on John Peel, but really anything from Morrissey. Or 'You and I' by Wilco. Or Teenage Kicks. Or The Doors....I could go on and on....the other lyric that always sticks with me is Edwyn Collins on 'Consolation Prize'; 'I wore my fringe like Roger McGuinn's, I was hoping to impress. So frightfully camp, it made you laugh, tomorrow I'll buy myself a dress - how ludicrous

Malkmus, living up the 90s

6.Musician/s you would like to meet (should be alive, for obvious reasons, but you can choose a dead one too)
I really wouldn't be overly keen to meet anyone really. I've had chances to meet Andy Warren but never taken them up. I think maybe if pushed I'd quite like to meet the guys from Pavement, Malkmus in particular but any of them really. They seem pretty grounded and I feel like it would be a productive conversation. I met Liam Gallagher once mind you and we had a good chat about football. He was absolutely lovely.

7. Favorite artwork album (not yours)
Unknown Pleasures by Joy Division. Love the Factory stuff.

Wes Anderson in the Republic of Zubrowka

8. Books or movies? Depending on your answer recommend us one (trick: you can choose both) 
Any movie by Wes Anderson and I recommend 'Grand Budapest Hotel' if you haven't seen it. I love both but Wes takes it for movies and Douglas Coupland would take it for books.

9. Release (of yours) you are most proud of
Well I think generally musicians are always most proud of the last thing they've done, otherwise there's not much point in going on. To that end, the song 'Let's Start At The Beginning' from the last Treasure album takes it, but obviously I'm most proud of the songs I'm working on right now.

10. What does it mean indie for you? (yes, the “serious question”)
That's a good question. Personally, I think the concept of "indie" needs to be retired as it died a long time ago. I still think of the original definition which was music distributed independently, outside of the major labels, but that quickly got into difficulty when artists like Kylie Minogue -genuinely indie at the time- started to take over the Indie chart. Then they tried "alternative" as a category and everything became subjective. I think music is just music now and it's not indie v. majors anymore, it's all changed, but the real battle is going to be hard product v. downloads. I dread the day that you can't buy a physical CD or piece of vinyl. Personally, I'd like to go back to vinyl and downloads. CD as a format holds no real interest for me.

11. Where do you see yourself in 10 years? 
Still making music and sending it out on CD to about 6 interested friends!         

 Zillion thanks Mark!

These Go to 11: interviewing The Persian Leaps

After recovering the section last week, here's another chapter on our interview series. This week we have to pleasure to count with Drew Forsberg from our dear The Persian Leaps and the excellent Land Ski Records label answering our questionnaire. A little bit of old-school-noise-pop in our blog today. These Go to 11! 

Ready for the jump

Drew Forsberg, The Persian Leaps 

Hailing from Saint Paul, Minnesota, this trio was formed in 2012, when Drew Forsberg decided to transform his originally solo project into a full band. A year after, they released via his own label Land Ski Records debut EP 'Praise Elephants', followed by 'Drive Drive Delay' in September 2014. Now the circle of EPs has been completed with 'High & Vibrate', out just now. Direct, shiny, infectious songs, somewhere in between noise pop and power-pop, recalling the brightest side of Sugar and our beloved Teenage Fanclub, ready for making your day immediately. Alive and kicking tunes! Here we go!

Second hand news: this record was huge

1. First record that you bought (be honest)
I believe I got several albums at once because I joined the Columbia House record club (8 records for a penny!). But I’m pretty sure that Fleetwood Mac – 'Rumours' and an ABBA greatest hits album were in there.

2. First and last concert you have attended (be honest too!)

My first concert ever was Pete Seeger and Arlo Guthrie at the Minnesota State Fair in 1985. My first real rock and roll concert, though, was Echo & the Bunnymen and New Order in 1987. These days, I mostly go to shows by local bands. The awesome shoegaze band, Ringo Deathstarr, was the last larger show I went to.

The fast, furious & hairy 80s, MTV style

3. Guilty pleasure (song/band you shouldn’t like but you do, yes, it’s the embarrassing question)
I have a weakness for Def Leppard, especially 'Photograph'.

4. Most precious music item you own (collector mode on)

I’m not into vinyl, and although I have stacks of CDs, I just listen to music on my phone these days. My oldest, most precious music-related item is a songbook for The Smiths – 'Meat is Murder' that I bought around 1986. I basically taught myself to play guitar using the chords in that book.

The father of lo-fi, hearing the voices...

5. Favorite lyrics (not yours)
Just about anything by the Smiths or Guided By Voices. Morrissey and Robert Pollard are amazing lyricists, although very different. If I had to pick just one example, I’d choose 'The Headmaster Ritual' by the Smiths just because it so perfectly captures a bleak, miserable school experience.

6. Musician/s you would like to meet (should be alive, for obvious reasons, but you can choose a dead one too)
Robert Pollard from Guided by Voices.

7. Favorite artwork album (not yours)
My Bloody Valentine’s 'Loveless'.

8. Books or movies? Depending on your answer recommend us one (trick: you can choose both) 
My favorite movie is 'The Godfather'. My favorite book is 'The Crying of Lot 49' by Thomas Pynchon.

Elephants going noise-pop

9. Song (of yours) you are most proud of
They’re all my children. That said, I’m still very proud of the song 'Sleeples' from Praise Elephants. It’s about my father and so far, is the only time I’ve written a song with direct, personal content.

10. What does it mean indie for you? (yes, the “serious question”)
I’m biased and have a certain sound in mind when I hear that term (guitar-driven indie rock from the 80s and early 90s). But in general, it makes me think of musicians who are passionate enough about music to keep making it, even when they have little chance of commercial, popular success.

11. Where do you see yourself in 10 years? 
Still making music, with any luck, releasing the five best Persian Leaps songs we have ready every fall.

                                                                                     Zillion thanks Drew, thanks The Persian Leaps!

These Go to 11: interviewing Fighter Pillow

Back from Primavera Club, we return to our regular interview series with Manu Herrero, Fighter Pillow and Black Islands' guitarist answering our questionnaire. These Go to 11!

Manu Herrero, Fighter Pillow 

The "warriors" of  indie-pop

After discovering them two years ago, when they only had four demos available at their bandcamp, the mysteriously titled 'EP1', while they were enlisted to play at Primavera als Parcs' 2012. The band was born a year before crystallising in a real local underground supergroup with Eli Molina from our beloved Me and the Bees, Manu "Rec" Herrero from Black Islands, Rubén Martínez from Maika Makowski & Ainara LeGardon and Afonso "Pocho" Méndez from lo:muêso (Eric Fuentes or our friend Edu Chirinos from Las Ruinas also took part on the initial first stages of the band). Their debut, self-titled album arrived this October on Hang The DJ Records, confirming the promise of those earlier songs and following digital singles. Diverse indie-rock with a knack for melodies and a deep love for fuzzy guitars, that you shouldn't miss live if you can, as proved at Primavera Club 2014. Here we go!

'Holidays in the sun' going punk

1. First record that you bought (be honest)

'Nevermind The Bollocks' by Sex Pistols, on CD. I bought it while I was on holidays with my parents. I was 15 years old and at that time I didn’t have a CD player. I know it sounds so cool but it’s true. My brother, who was present, can testify on my behalf.

2. First and last concert you have attended (be honest too!)
I can’t remember the first one. One of the first was a German indie pop band called Bazooka Cain, at the social center of my town. I spent all my money buying their 7". I was 16. The latest has been Morrissey in Barcelona.

3. Guilty pleasure (song/band you shouldn’t like but you do, yes, it’s the embarrassing question)
I don't understand the concept of "guilty pleasure" in matters of art. Either you like it, enjoy it or not. Is all that matters.

Mr. Haines, artitst saving the world

4. Most precious music item you own (collector mode on)
Maybe my Vox AC30, which was used on a tour by The Wedding Present or a vinyl autographed by Luke Haines.

5. Favorite lyrics (not yours)

'Don't forget the songs that made you cry and the songs that saved your life. Yes you're older now and you're clever swine but they were the only ones who ever stood by you'.
All the Morrissey work on The Smiths.

6. Musician/s you would like to meet (should be alive, for obvious reasons, but you can choose a dead one too)
I'm afraid of meeting my idols. I don’t like that idea. It can be very disappointing.

Domestic still life, by The Cure

7. Favorite artwork album (not yours)
'Three Imaginary Boys' by The Cure. I find it very funny and arty at the same time.

8. Books or movies? Depending on your answer recommend us one (trick: you can choose both) 
Book: 'The Nightingale and the Rose' by Oscar Wilde
Movie: 'Sunset Boulevard' by Billy Wilder.

Twilight and fall

9. Release (of yours) you are most proud of

Choosing one would despise the others. I don’t want to regret it tomorrow when I read my answer.

10. What does it mean indie for you? (yes, the “serious question”)

Nothing. Sometimes it's a matter of money and other of ethics. So it makes no sense to talk seriously about it, because every step you take in order to grow as a band can betray the other.

11. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
I don't know. I just hope to be alive and happy. If that involves music, fine, if not, fine too.

Zillion thanks Manu & Fighter Pillow!

The Indie Anthology 51: essential songs

We reached another Blog landmark: 50 tunes on our Indie Anthology. So number 51 had to be something special. Very special. So I decided to go even more personal, openly confessional (apologies if I get a bit cheesy) with next tune. Not just a great tune from one of my favourite pop composers of all time. Along with R.E.M., probably the reason this Blog exists...

Song: Instinct
Artist: Crowded House
Year: 1996

The first record I bought was 'Recurring Dream' the greatest hits compilation album Crowded House released as their (then) swan song. It's hard to believe today, but the record got quite a lot of buzz in Spain (there was even a TV ad) and radio airplay and, on a time that now seems ages ago, the video of 'Instinct', was frequently on programs like 'Los 40 Principales' or 'Sputnik' (check the vid). I got abducted by Neil Finn's masterful ability to create eternal pop tunes. Romantic but with a darker twist, funny, carefree (ok, sometimes a bit silly too) and power-pop numbers cohabiting with melancholic and moodier ones, not afraid of dealing with riskier subjects. Middle eight melodies capable of getting epic without crossing the annoying line, always with a fragment ready to reach you in a way you wouldn't want the rest of the world know. Can sadness be uplifting? Try Crowded House... Of course I ran to grab a copy to almost every album (try asking for Splitz Enz debut in Barcelona before the Internet arrived), lost single and book (first music biography I ever read in English). I followed Neil Finn's solo career and saw him presenting the lovely and surprising 'Try Whistling This' album in Barcelona, my first gig, joined by my father, who was really surprised how different his sons could be (my brother was into Depeche Mode then, 'Ultra' era). But then I just couldn't stop, so I went deeper, on his music style, influences and origins... then the Pandora's box opened: The Bats, The Verlaines, The Chills, but also Marr & Morrissey, and then... umm you pretty much have a clue of the rest if you follow this Blog. Although time has put Crowded House on a different perspective to me, I still would carry 'Together Alone' with me to a desert island, and I still have goosebumps every time I hear 'Distant Sun', 'Fingers of Love' or 'Weather With You'. To put it simply, Crowded House are my Beatles. "Your instinct can't be wrong"...

These go to 11: interviewing The Very Most

The time has arrived: this wouldn't be Bloodbuzzed without the wonderful musician, caring familiy man, gentle host and dear friend Jeremy Jensen taking part of in our interview series. Be careful: music genius answering questions. These Go to 11!

Jeremy Jensen, The Very Most

Imagine the pop benefits of cloning... 

Boise, Idaho is the land of potatoes, beautiful scenic views... and the place from where Jeremy Jensen, mastermind & only permanent member of TVM keeps creating his indiepop gems for 12 years now. In 2004 arrived the first album, 'Making the Case for Me', and since then the band status (and Jeremy's as pop composer) has only being reinforced once and again with every release, like 2008's golden LP 'Congratulations Forever', or the majestic 'A Year with The Very Most' in 2010, compiling the four EPs released a year before. Collaborations (he's quintessential part of Baffin Island, with my beloved Melanie Whittle of The Hermit Crabs), Christmas releases, several 7" & EPs, including their/his latest trio of wonders (go grab them!): 'Ununiversalizable Us', 'Just a Pup' and 2014's 'Things Too Obvious to Sing', out now on My Little Owl Records. Ladies & gents, Jeremy Jensen, crafting & honouring POP (in capital letters) with The Very Most. Here we go!

Stand! for GREAT records

1. First record that you bought (be honest)

The first record I bought was R.E.M.'s 'Green'. The first I was given as a gift (on cassette) was The Jets' 'Magic'. The Jets were a pop/R&B band from Tonga that had a few hits in the 80s. Lots of spandex. Pretty catchy though.

2. First and last concert you have attended (be honest too!)
The first concert I went to was probably The Jets! I didn't realize until now how many of my personal milestones they were involved in. You caught me at a really good time in terms of the last one I saw: Neutral Milk Hotel. They were so good. So intense. Spot on vibe. They somehow managed to recreate onstage the manic-depressive, fuzzy sound of their records. The whole crowd sang along to every word.

Among the most dangerous
(music) criminals

3. Guilty pleasure (song/band you shouldn’t like but you do, yes, it’s the embarrassing question)

I'm a little embarrassed to admit that I really like the Justin Beiber song 'Die in Your Arms'. If it were recorded by The Jackson Five it would have been a classic. Even today's ridiculous hip-hop/R&B production and stylistic touches didn't manage to ruin it.

4. Most precious music item you own (collector mode on)
My signed copy of Jonathan Richman and The Modern Lovers. It's not my favorite album of theirs (that would be 'Rockin' and Romance') but, well, Jojo touched it.

5. Favorite lyrics (not yours)

"And so I gave myself to God/There was a pregnant pause before he said OK" from 'The State That I Am In' by Belle and Sebastian. Everything about that song is perfect: the lyrics, the production, the way Stuart sung it, the guitar work. Might be my second favorite song ever (after 'God Only Knows').

Murdoch, the pop pursuit

6. Musician/s you would like to meet (should be alive, for obvious reasons, but you can choose a dead one too)

Stuart Murdoch. Since I met Jonathan Richman a couple months ago and TracyAnne Campbell a few months back, Stuart's the one. I'd say Brian Wilson, but it would have to be Brian Wilson in 1966.

 7. Favorite artwork album (not yours)

The Smiths' 'Louder Than Bombs'. I love the saturated monocolor, the look on Shelagh Delaney's face, and the typeface. Plus, this album seemed like it dropped from another planet when I first heard it in 1991 or so. The Smiths sounded like no one else and forever shaped my idea of what a band should be.

"Killer" Kane

8. Books or movies? Depending on your answer recommend us one (trick: you can choose both)
Nothing else can combine so many artforms/disciplines like a movie does. When they're great, they move me like no other medium. That said, most commercially available movies are garbage and I'm not knowledgeable enough to find the best movies. In any case, one movie I'd like to recommend is called New York Doll. It's a documentary about Arthur "Killer" Kane of the New York Dolls. Greg Whitely does a great job of weaving together Arthur's amazing personal story with the rock history that he made with New York Dolls.

9. Release (of yours) you are most proud of:

Currently, the song I'm most pleased with is 'About Forgetting' from the new EP, though it's not necessarily my "favorite" song. Not sure if that makes sense. It's the closest a song has ever come to sounding like what I was imagining in my head before I started recording it. That's a really satisfying feeling, even if there are several of my songs that I enjoy listening to a little more.

10. What’s does it mean indie for you? (yes, the “serious question”)

At its best, indie music is melodic rock or pop music made according to the band's vision without regard for what will sell. At its worst, it's just another genre that can be bastardized and commercialized. It can devolve into self-parody.

11. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
I'll be almost 48. I think I'll probably still be making records, but I'll be a little surprised if it's at the same pace I'm going at now. Then again, my kids will probably be out of the house by then, so maybe I'll record like crazy to combat empty nest sadness.

Zillion thanks Jeremy!

These go to 11: interviewing The Hi-Life Companion

This wouldn't be Bloodbuzzed without my dear friends The Hi-Life Companion. Therefore, the time has arrived for one of their core members, Jonathan Troy, to take part in our interview series. Expect many indiepop wonders and even more "family issues". These Go to 11!

Jonathan Troy, The Hi-Life Companion

The Bros Companion

Our beloved indiepop band hails from Bristol and is based around brothers Matt and Jon Troy (the complete group is a septet). They debuted in 2008 with a single via Cloudberry Records, since then including their tunes on a number of compilations on Weepop!, Series Two and blog favourites EardrumsPop. The next step, better said a huge leap forward, arrived in 2011 with "Say Yes", mind-blowing first album, out on Plastilina Records. After a long wait, sophomore release "Our Years In The Wilderness" is about to see the light of day through the band’s own label "No Pudding Annie Records" this June. Expect a collection of indiepop gems, diverse, rich and heartful, like putting on a cocktail shaker all the pop bands we already love, agitate with some Bristol melancholia and a lot of music talent... Here we go!

1. First record that you bought (be honest)

Pet Shop Boys "Disco". 

2. First and last concert you have attended (be honest too!)
First, Pink Floyd at Wembley Stadium in 1988. Last, Euros Child at The Folk House in Bristol, 2014.

The Hair Life Companion!

3. Guilty pleasure (song/band you shouldn’t like but you do, yes, it’s the embarrassing question)

Myself and my brother grew up largely listening to bad rock music/metal. I spent a lot of time around Heart, Cinderella, Extreme and Poison. There, I've admitted it. We both still have a soft spot for Van Halen and AC/DC. In fact, I think my brother would secretly much prefer to be in an AC/DC tribute band.

Hard rock hero in shorts

4. Most precious music item you own (collector mode on)
Most of our gear is a bit cheap and crap. A Neuman TLM 113 microphone is probably the most precious I guess. Matt has proper "grown up" Martin acoustic guitar that only he's allowed to touch...

5. Favorite lyrics (not yours)

"Do you long for her, or for the way you were?" from Jonathan Richman's "That Summer Feeling".

6. Musician/s you would like to meet (should be alive, for obvious reasons, but you can choose a dead one too)

Matt would say Angus Young, I'm sure. I think I'd quite like to have gone for a drink with Townes Van Zandt.

 7. Favorite artwork album (not yours)

 Probably Smiths "Meat is Murder".

8. Books or movies? Depending on your answer recommend us one (trick: you can choose both)
Books for me - I know there's a film coming out of it but Markus Zusak's "The Book Thief" is a great book. Also Matthew Kneale's "English Passengers".

What Mozz Said...

9. Release (of yours) you are most proud of:

"Cast You Down" of the new album, because it ended up sounding exactly like I imagined it, which is extremely rare. Usually I can't get very near how it sounds in my head - the reality is always compromised by our own lack of musical ability, time, over-playing it, the right equipment etc.

10. What’s does it mean indie for you? (yes, the “serious question”

The spirit of individuality. Having grown up in the 80's it still means guitars, obscurity (and discovery) and non-mainstream. 

11. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Hopefully on our third album! We do have rather a slow work-rate. I'd like to feel that each time we make some music it ends up sounding better than the last effort and that we steadily improve the quality of what we make. Better songs, better lyrics, better played - and that the gap between how it sounds in my head and how it eventually tunrs out gets progressively smaller. I'm hopping one day I'll be totally proud of a piece of music we make in it's entirely and not embarrassed by little bits of it here and there. 

Zillion thanks Jonathan & all The Hi-Life Companion!

These Go to 11: interviewing Desperate Journalist

We are back with our interview series and I'm extremely happy to do so with one of my most exciting discoveries of 2014 so far, the very young post-punk band Desperate Journalist. Fated for big things, I already wrote it before: this is a band to believe in. These Go to 11!

Desperate Journalist

Desperate Journalist, dignifying a
noble profession with killer tunes

Hailing from North London, this quartet began their career in January 2013, making their live debut (that took place at the Negative Creep club) a month later. They quickly began to get the attention of good-eared people, and the buzz became "official" with their first single "Cristina", which entitled their debut EP, released in June that year. Two more tracks followed that November: the mesmerizing single "Organ" backed with "Distance", out on Label Fandango / Fierce Panda. Now the countdown is almost over for another release, the single "Happening" backed with "Vengeance", out on May 5th on Giant Haystacks Records. Ebullient but atmospheric, urgent but pensive, straightforward but passionate, fuelled by the magnetic voice of Jo Bevan (also on the most promising act Violet Hours), this is post-punk at its best. Here we go!

Band of brothers...

1. First record that you bought (be honest)
Simon: Oasis, "Definitely Maybe"
Jo: Gay Dad, "To Earth With Love" (single). I'm not entirely sure what the first album was but I think it might have been the first Garbage record.
Rob: "Appetite for Destruction" by Guns N’ Roses. I still remember how amazing it felt when I put it on for the first time.
Caz: My parents bought me some French pop records when I was a kid... I can't remember what the first one I went and bought for myself was, but I know that Bon Jovi's "Slippery When Wet" was one of the first.

  

2. First and last concert you have attended (be honest too!)
Simon: First, Oasis at the NIA, 1997. Last , CuT at The Black Heart in Camden
Jo: First gig was Asian Dub Foundation, with my parents. Last was No Joy and Fear of Men, sometime late last year
Rob: I think the first might have been Bush in Wolverhampton but I wouldn’t swear to it. I think the last one was the Heartbreaks earlier this year.
Caz: The first one was this French metal band called Supuration (now Sup) when I was about 12, with my sister. It was a taste of being grown-up, and it made a big impression on me. The last one was Jonny Cola & The A-Grades at Cargo, last week.

Def Leppard...
Rock of Ages or aging Rock?

3. Guilty pleasure (song/band you shouldn’t like but you do, yes, it’s the embarrassing question)
Simon: I like most 80s pop. Bananarama...Belinda Carlisle. You name it.
Jo: I don't believe in feeling guilty about songs you like! Music is only as valuable as the response it elicits from you, whether it's Taylor Swift or Einstürzende Neubauten.
Rob: I love "Nothing Compares 2 U" by Sinead O’Connor and I don’t feel guilty about it.
Caz: I’m not embarrassed about anything I like listening to, but some people probably think I should be embarrassed about Def Leppard!

4. Most precious music item you own (collector mode on)
Simon: My silver Italia Maranello bass.
Jo: I have the same mic that James Murphy used in LCD Soundsystem (Sennheiser MD409) - it's amazing. We use it for recording but haven't played big enough stages to use it for gigs yet. Soon.
Rob: My Jetglo Rickenbacker 360/12. Sometimes still have to look twice to believe I own it.
Caz: My little 60's Watkins tremolo guitar amp which I got from a charity shop for £3 and sounds amazing.

Oh, those shy guys...

5. Favorite lyrics (not yours)
Simon: "Shyness is nice, and shyness can stop you from doing all the things in life you'd like to" The Smiths.
Jo: This is a really difficult question but off the top of my head: the whole of "Wings" by the Fall.
Rob: I’ve got to go with ‘I know I believe in nothing but it is my nothing’ from "Faster" by the Manic Street Preachers as I have it tattooed on my arm.
Caz: "It doesn’t matter if we all die” ("One Hundred Years", The Cure)

Brian "musichead" Eno

6. Musician/s you would like to meet (should be alive, for obvious reasons, but you can choose a dead one too)

Simon: I want Birdland to reform and we'll support them.
Jo: I would love to pick the brain of Brian Eno.
Rob: I don’t really like meeting new people so I’m not convinced meeting a musician I admire would do either myself or said musician any favours whatsoever.
Caz: I would have said Robert Smith and Conor Oberst but I’ve already met them! I’d rather not meet my idols anyway because I get terribly star-struck and make an idiot of myself.

7. Favorite artwork album (not yours)
Simon: Manic Street Preachers' "Journal For Plague Lovers". I have it on my bedroom wall.
Jo: XTC's "Go 2".
Rob: I’m torn between "The Queen is Dead" by the Smiths and "Dog Man Star" by Suede…
Caz: "Cassadaga" by Bright Eyes. The record comes with this little “Spectral decoder” that you use to see the true cover.

On Lynch's one-way road

8. Books or movies? Depending on your answer recommend us one (trick: you can choose both)

Simon: Films probably. I recommend "From The Sea To The Land Beyond". Cool archive footage of English coastland with a soundtrack by British Sea Power. 

Jo: I love both. I recently saw "Local Hero" for the first time, which is a fantastically underrated and moving film. My favourite book is either "Riddley Walker" by Russell Hoban or "A Clockwork Orange" by Anthony Burgess. Weirdy-language books are the best.
Rob: I’m not in to films so much apart from odd historical epics… I would however highly recommend "Jude the Obscure" by Thomas Hardy, "The Masterpiece" by Zola and "The Idiot" by Dostoyevsky. Of course "Don Quixote" by Cervantes is very good too.
Caz: Both. It’s hard to choose... I’d recommend the ones that I loved so much I had to watch/read them again as soon as I’d finished them: "Lost Highway" (David Lynch), and as for books, "The Outsider" (Camus) and "Les Enfants Terribles" (Cocteau).

9. Songs (of yours) you are most proud of
Simon: "Cristina" - the populist's choice.
Jo: From a selfish melody/lyrical perspective, "Distance" is my favourite.
Rob: I’d probably go with "Happening" which should be our next single. Mainly because I came up with a guitar part that took me several months to be able to actually play properly. I’m also quite pleased with how it’s got quite an odd chord structure, manages to be essentially a pop song and is still nice and boisterous.
Caz: "Mistakes" - It's the first song we’ve ever written together and therefore my first ever drumming performance.

10. What’s does it mean indie for you? (yes, the “serious question”)
Simon: When i was young i thought it meant any guitar band in the charts that wasn't Heavy Metal. Ha! Now I know it's a lot more complicated than that...
Jo: It used to mean independent but now I suppose it's shorthand for any guitar band
Rob: I think it should mean being able to make the music you want to make. I suspect that now it’s just shorthand used by lazy journalists to describe bands with guitars they can’t be bothered to listen to.
Caz: As Jo said, for me it used to mean anything that was DIY and outside of the major labels but now it just means any guitar band!

11. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Simon: Probably answering questions about 10 years ago
Jo: Sleeping on top of a pile of money with many beautiful ladies. On a bus.
Rob: Probably in the same flat, on the same street, having curry in the same curry house.
Caz: On tour, but also having a house by the sea.

Zillion thanks Desperate Journalist!