Elba Sessions

In the second of our Record Store Day themed posts, Chris gives us some info on one of his favourite record stores…in Cheltenham. With the internet being so important to bands, labels and Record Stores these days, Badlands specialise in the type of thing a certain type of music fan may not find down at the their local store…

When we spoke about doing a post on our favourite Record Store for Record Store Day I had the thought ‘Can I really write a post on a store i’ve never been to…!!!???’

The answer is quite clearly yes…

I first came to know about Badlands when I walked into bar in Belfast, pre-Springsteen gig, and found that I had walked into what I now know as a Badlands Party. What I encountered was an all day sessions with sing-a-longs, bootleg CDs & DVDs, cool (& cheaper than the official merch) t-shirts and a pre-gig show by a local guitarist. Since that day I have been to similiar pre-gig Badlands Parties in Cardiff, Dublin & (finally) Glasgow, each as much fun as the last.

Now I know what you’re thinking, the above is no reason to mention them as a great Record Store, surely this just shows that they can throw a great party, however since that first event I have been a regular visitor to the store’s website. Any Springsteen fan will find something on the site to keep them happy with full back catalogue along with a number of bootlegs aswell. I use Badlands regualrly to get copies of Backstreets magazine which isn’t readily available in the UK. And it is worth a visit for said t-shirts alone.

Badlands don’t just cater for Springsteen fans, they have a good taste in music and when Bruce downs tools they’re always off to other shows creating a similar atmosphere so I highly recommend a visit to their site.

For Record Store Day the guys at Badlands have there very own release called ‘It’s Boss Time’ which is a compilation by a number of artists of Springsteen covers, as well as a Saturday night show with Willie Nile and Danny & The Champions of The World.

Oh and not to make this post too Bruce Springsteen orientated… Bruce Springsteen – Gotta Get That Feeling is released for Record Store Day also… (bet you didn’t see that coming!)

As promised, we have returned after the festivities of this weekend to bring you the last installments of the 2010 Elba Annual. We are feeling a little delicate and a bit too full after all the indulgence and we do hope that you all had a Merry ol’ time regardless of how you spent it.

It is now time for Elba to talk a little bit about our year. We will get the ball rolling with Chris’ choices and hopefully have the rest up before the 1st rolls around.  This is entirely dependent on whether Phil manages to get to a computer at some point this week as I’m sure he’ll be juggling nappies, milk bottles and what not… not literally juggling of course as that would be messy, not to mention smelly.

I give you Chris’ review of 2010 and our first alter ego picture of three.  For Mr Knox we have selected Quentin Tarantino. Having been audience to both (QT – a Q&A screening of Death Proof at the GFT in 2007, CK – give him a pint and watch him go) the visual resemblance is striking not to mention the enthusiastic manner it is an easy connection to make:

Album of The Year – The Promise – Bruce Springsteen. For me personally this is outstanding! An album that could’ve/should’ve come out anytime between 76-78 had Springsteen not been shafted by Mike Appel, however that decade’s loss is our gain. An album that is both a trip down memory lane and a gem of an album of never before heard tracks and as always every song is full of lyrics simply not found in 2010, quite simply outstanding. (And the £80 boxset is the sexiest thing i’ve ever seen). PS The Suburbs – Arcade Fire was also outstanding if i’m allowed to squeeze in two!

Best Gig – The National – O2 Academy. One of my favourite bands that I had never seen live…and boy they didn’t let me down. I announce pre-gig ‘I’ll be happy as long as they play Mr November’ (which is one of the cleverest songs ever written) and when they did it was incredible!

Favourite New Band(s) – The Scottish Enlightenment – OK…so they aren’t new…but I only picked up on them until this year. Yet another mighty fine artist on Armellodie.

Musical Memories of 2010 – There is a smell that will strike you when you first meet two musicians that have a) Slept in a car the night before b) Driven up that day from London…and I experienced that smell first hand when we met the guys from King James to record a podcast pre-gig at Elba Studios. Fortunately the smell isn’t what has stayed with me…the podcast itself was an absolute joy, each track effortless and the chat was great…then hours later they were down the ship for one of my favourite Elba gigs of the year.

Hopes/Plans (music) for 2011 – What makes doing the podcast/blog/gigs so fun is that there are four of us that all chip in. We all have different tastes and opinions and if i’m honest i’ve struggled this year to get excited by many new artists. All I want from 2011 is for a handful of artists to make me sit up and listen…in a good way! That and The Boss to tour again will keep me happy.

Come and join us again around our metaphorical fireplace on Wednesday for further tales from our motley crew.

Every so often I get so excited by an upcoming release that I forget any other future release exists…this year, like so many before it, the name on my lips is Bruce Springsteen. What makes this particular release so great is (as with almost anything Springsteen releases of late) the meticulous detail put in for his fans. However, this time they’ve really pushed the boat out.

The release I am talking about is of course ‘The Promise: The Darkness on the Edge of Town Story’. I almost called this a re-issue, however, when you see what is in this package you will see why that statement would be a grave injustice. This release includes 3 CDs & 3 DVDs (or Blu-Rays & Vinyl depending on your preferred technology). The media contents are packaged within an 80-page notebook containing facsimiles from Springsteen’s original notebooks from the recording sessions, which include alternate lyrics, song ideas, recording details, and personal notes in addition to a new essay by Springsteen and never-before-seen photographs. It’s definitely one for the fans.

For full track listings on both CDs & DVD’s see the official press release here. Personally I am most excited about the DVD side of the release as there is nothing quite like seeing The Boss live. Some of the CD tracks are actually available on the deluxe edition of Tracks (but that’s just me being a Bruce anorak!).

The full collection will be available on the 15th November from all good stockists, however, point your browser towards these guys at Badlands. They’re great and I would urge any Bruce fan, no scratch that, any music fan to check them out, especially if The Boss is touring as they throw a hell of a party!!

My turn, let’s keep it snappy…

Album of The Year – Loads to choose from! Titus Andronicus – The Airing of Grievances probably tops the list though. Honourable mentions to Brakes, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Le Reno Amps, Cuddly Shark and The Cinematics, oh, and The Phantom Band! (I could go on…)

Hopes for 2010/Things You’re Looking Forward To – Putting on more gigs, writing more for the blog (and getting better at it), seeing and hearing loads of new music, working with Armellodie records and seeing it evolve, Pavement at the Barrowlands (!!!!!!!) and putting some faces to email addresses!

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM ALL OF US HERE AT ELBA!

SEE YOU IN 2010!

After a couple of days of Christmas over-indulgence, Elba Sessions go self indulgent. We’ve saved a couple of annual posts until the end of the month about our ‘bests’ of the year. Up first, podcaster broadcaster Chris…

Album of The Year – Wilco – Wilco (The Album). I literally listened to one album for 2 months after I bought this album so it has to be. Honourable mention to Richmond Fontaine’s new album…brilliant.

Hopes for 2010/Things You’re Looking Forward To -
Album – Lightspeed Champion.
Book – Willy Vlautin – ‘Lean On Pete.
TV – Final season of Lost can’t f%^king wait!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh and putting on more gigs…

The Elba Sessions podcast has been running since July this year and we have been blogging since September so we were pretty honoured to be asked by Peenko to throw our tuppence worth into what is now affectionately known as The Scottish BAMS or The Scottish Bloggers and Music Sites Award 2009, to give it it’s proper title. The Phantom Band’s Checkmate Savage took the honours and the Top 20 was packed with plenty of good choices, with a large amount of Scottish talent being represented.

Personally I struggled a bit, not to choose the ten so much, but more to order it from 10 to 1. Looking back at my choices, I’ll stick with my Number 1 and possibly the first few places but to be honest, if any of my top 10 were at number 1, I’d have no complaints at all. Here is how Stephen, Chris and myself voted…

(note: Stephen ducks out slightly by nominating an unreleased album, but we’ll let him off for that and you’ll notice I favoured counting down from 10 to 1, to build suspense and all, wheras my fellow amigos went straight in with a number 1!)

Phil Elba

10. Cuddly Shark – Cuddly Shark
9.Le Reno Amps – Tear It Open
8.Bruce Springsteen – Working On A Dream
7.The Cinematics – Love and Terror
6. Brakes – Touchdown
5. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart – The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
4. Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavillion
3. Sufjan Stevens – The BQE
2. Phantom Band – Checkmate Savage
1. Titus Andronicus – The Airing of Grievances

Stephen Elba

1. De Rosa – Prevention
2. My Latest Novel – Deaths and Entrances.
3. Camera Obscura – My Maudlin Career.
4. Idlewild – Post Electric Blues.
5. Conor Mason – When its Over
6. Le Reno Amps – Tear it Open
7. LAU – Arc Light
8. bat for lashes – two Suns
9. Daniel Wylie – Fake your own death (wont be released until 2010 but i have heard the tracks and they are ace!)
10. Cuddly Shark – Cuddly Shark

Chris Elba

1. Wilco – Wilco (the album)
2. Richmond Fontaine – We Used To Think The Freeway Sounded Like A River
3. Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion
4. Bruce Springsteen – Working on a Dream
5. De Rosa – Prevention
6. Bob Dylan – Together Through Life
7. Bill Callahan – Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle
8. The Low Anthem – Oh My God, Charlie Darwin
9. Sufjan Stevens – The BQE
10. Le Reno Amps – Tear It Open

I was pretty pleased that 4 of mine were included in the Top 20 and having seen the spreadsheet where the maths was done, a couple just missed out. I think The Phantom Band were worthy winners though, being voted for by predominantly scottish blogs and writers it’s fitting that a Scottish band should win it, who would have doubted that one would!

And here’s how the masses voted!

1. The Phantom Band – Checkmate Savage (61)
2. Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavillion (54)
3. De Rosa – Prevention (53)
4. King Creosote – Flick the V’s (51)
5. Withered Hand – Good News (45)
6. The Twilight Sad – Forget The Night Ahead (43)
7. We Were Promised Jetpacks – These Four Walls (40)
8. Beerjacket – Animosity (38)
9. Mumford & Sons – Sigh No More (32)
9. Camera Obscura – My Maudlin Career (32)
11. My Latest Novel – Deaths and Entrances (28)
11. Malcolm Middleton – Waxing Gibbous (28)
13. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart – s/t (25)
14. You Already Know – s/t (24)
14. Broken Records – Until the Earth Begins to Part (24)
16. The XX – s/t (23)
17. The Antlers – Hospice (21)
18. Sufjan Stevens – The BQE (19)
18. And So I Watch You From Afar (19)
20. Wilco – The Album (18)

You can praise/blame/thank the following for their input!

17 Seconds, AyeTunes, Dear Scotland, Earz Mag, Elba Sessions, Glasgow Podcart, Hooligans Lament, Jim Gellatly, JocknRoll, Jockrock, Kowalskiy, Last Years Girl, Love Shack Baby, Manic Pop Thrills, My Portiswasp Says, Off the Beaten Tracks, The Popcop, Products of a Gaseous Brain, Song By Toad, The Daily Growl, The Spill, The Steinberg Principle, The Vinyl Villain and Under the Radar.

And once again, well done to Peenko for organising all of this!