X Factor USA

I have a love/hate relationship the same as most sensible human beings with The X Factor and related programmes. The UK X Factor this year is particularly terrible. I don't even want to get started on what a talentless bunch of rubbish the finalists are. It's excruciating. The only possible reason left for watching is for conversation fodder.

The X Factor USA, on the other hand, is awesome. I don't care that nobody's talking about it, because I'm getting to see performances that I actually want to look up on YouTube and watch again. Even the worst are a million times better than the UK show's best. If I were ITV, I'd can the UK version and start showing the US one on Saturday nights instead, before the nation realises they're feeding it dog meat.

This is Drew. She's fourteen. Whaaaaaat.


This is Stereo Hogzz. They make The Risk look like an embarrassing accident.


Stacy is pretty good, but equally important to note about this clip is how FREAKING HOT Enrique Iglesias looks.


This dude is SIXTY.


Another just plain great singer.


X Factor UK is dabbling with the odd bit of rap this year, too. But it's nothing on Astro. Who is FIFTEEN.


Josh looks like Scott Frabbit.


Rachel is THIRTEEN.


So yeah. Stop watching X Factor UK. Start watching X Factor USA. Make your life better.

The Boxer Rebellion

I find the hardest bands to describe are the ones I've listened to the most. The ones who have become such a permanent fixture in my mind that squatters' rights come in to play, and they actually own that wee part of my mind.

So yeah, I'm not going to describe them.

LOOK, 2 FREE MP3S!!!!



Oh, and they're playing Cabaret Voltaire on March 3rd. You will see few bands more impeccable live. And if you're a guitar nerd, Todd's pedals and stuff will drive you wild.

The Veils

Almost every other band in Baeble's giant concert catalogue looks stupid compared to Mumford & Sons (see previous post), but The Veils... they hold their own...


Watch the full video at Baeblemusic.com

Mumford & Sons live

I hated Mumford before I saw them live. The flipping banjo all over their album made me want to throw things. But they're so so so so so ridiculously good live that I've become completely accustomed to the banjo, and embrace them on record now too.

This live concert on the Baeble website is awesome. Watch it. (Yes, the 'full' video is an hour-long set. AMAZING.)


Watch the full video at Baeblemusic.com

Top 9 Albums of 2010

I get stuck every time I try to name a number 10. It seems to be a bazillion-way tie.













1 OK Go - Of The Blue Colour Of The Sky
2 The Xcerts - Scatterbrain
3 30 Seconds To Mars - This Is War (released December 2009, shhh)
4 You, Me And Everyone We Know - Some Things Don't Wash Out
5 My Chemical Romance - Danger Days: The True Lives Of The Fabulous Killjoys
6 Steel Train - Steel Train
7 Vampire Weekend - Contra
8 Kids In Glass Houses - Dirt
9 Fun. - Aim And Ignite

Listen to all of them (except Steel Train) on Spotify in one convenient playlist
Listen to a Steel Train song on YouTube (yes, it's a shame they're not on Spotify... but if you like it, the album's only £5.49 on iTunes last time I checked)