Music
We may not have a central student union venue, but Oxford still manages to attract a wide enough range of acts to keep almost everyone happy. Last year saw Franz Ferdinand and Scissor Sisters visit long before their much-hyped breakthroughs, so watch for the unknown support acts as they might be the next big things.
Fri 8th October, The 22-20s: Wielding their guitars like weapons of mass distraction, the 22-20s are everything you could want live: energetic, involved and with none of tha faux cooler-than-thou detachment adopted by so many of the new rock bands. Single 'Shoot your gun' garnered much airplay, so these guys are on the up. Supported ably by Cathy Davey and her acoustic musings, a great start to your music term.
Sat 9th October, The Glitterati: If swaggering bravado and high-octane stage shows are your thing, then rock upstarts the Glitterati might just be to your taste. Apparently around to put the sex back into rock 'n' roll (we hadn't noticed it missing), the band aim to inspire devotion, hatred, and a whole lot of lust. Dirty and downright debaucherous, we'll be there for sure.
Tues 19th October, Freestylers Live: Producers Aston Harvey and Matt Cantor bring their brash dance/hip hop/goodness-knows-what to Oxford to move your suburban asses. Fusing dancehall, Asian, electro and drum n bass influences, they're impossible to pin down but always guarenteed to deliver a blistering set. As infectious as they are eclectic, this is an unmissable show.
Fri 29th October, Fell City Girl: Local Brookes band who were beaten at last term's IMSoc Battle of the Bands by the barest whisper. The group constructs vast melodic soundscapes, best alikened to Coldplay and Radiohead, which should be pretty stunning if they manage to keep things tight and under control. Lead vocalist Phil McKinn is blessed with a fabulous soaring voice that rises above even the most embittered guitar solo. Hopefully they'll go somewhere.
Tues 2nd November, Ed Harcourt: Emotion and intimacy from the singer songwriter, but if you're expecting drippy melancholy then prepare to be surprised. Think jangly rhythms, energetic melodies and effortlessly charming tunes, mixed with pulsing guitars.
Fri 26th November, Dillinger Escape Plan: Hardcore metal that might send even the most faithful genre fan running for cover with bleeding ears. Ah well, for those of you up for a challange, prepare for a ferocious assualt of rage and intense destruction, promoting the new album 'Miss Machine'. (We will not be made liable for any damage to your self or property incurred by attending this performance).
Sat 27th November, Beta Band: Always regarded as something of an enigma by the media but widely recognised to be one of the UK's most influential bands, the Beta Band have decided to call it a day. Check out their Zodiac appearance, their last ever live gig.
Prepare for re-entry
Old favourites return, but will they be met with the sound of cheers or dashed expectations?
Tickets for Jimmy Eat World's recent UK date swapped hands for £100 apiece as fans eagerly awaited previews of ther next record. Futures lands Oct 11th.
U2 get ready to teach us How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb on Nov 22nd. The sound marks a return to classic rock form- so think Beautiful Day et al.
Eminem does his usual 'release a comedy pop single to trail an unpalatable record' thing as Encore arrives Nov 15th
The Manics are back, but don't expect a return to spitting anger and angst. Lifeblood is apparently a measured and well crafted record that won't disappoint their older listeners.
If you can push your elitist pretension aside for a moment (do try) then I know you'll rejoice in the news of the Kylie and Britney Greatest Hits which will soon arrive bearing every pop song you swore you hated but are actually rather fond of.
Meanwhile October 4th sees the launch of Tom Wait's eagerly awaited new album, Real Gone. Primal blues mashed with rock-steady groves and Latin hybrids graft together to form a new musical hybrid, from both old and new musical traditions.
WHO Okay, so Skinny-Man has been loitering on the UK MC scene for many a year, but it seems that soon he'll make his breakthrough into the mainstream consciousness. Think GLC's look plus Dizzie Rascal's honest rhymes and you're getting somewhere close to this man's style.
WHY Skinnyman doesn't gloss his London heritage but manages to convey the authentic experience of urban life with his ferocious raps. The beats are varied, matching spliced soul samples with jagged rhythm kicks for a distinctive and critically aclaimed sound. There's even the added bonus of skilled production collaberations, such as I'll be Surprised, ably handled by Baby J (known for his work with Wu Tang Clan).
WHAT Council Estate of the Mind is already out, but Skinnyman is still waiting for his breakthrough.
WHO Another set of Swedish rock 'n' roll maestros for your discerning consumption, complete with leather trousers and attitude sweating from every pore.
WHY Unlike the more chaotic sound of the Hives or the Ravonettes, Mando Diao have strolling, sophisticated melodies which are more like the Libertines in their harmonies and catchy refrain. Ranging from down-and-out raucous to restrained intimacy, they've got the skills to back the inevitable hype.
WHAT Single Paralyzed hits our shores 15th November - and a jaunty celebration of blues influences it is too. For the album you'll have to wait until 2005.
WHO Iceland's etheral Thorunn escapes the commercial pop embrace of her homeland and meets young Wayne in a London pub. The pair decide to make music to fall in love to, and end up seducing everyone else in the process.
WHY Produced by the Badly Drawn Boy team, The Honeymoon's sound is acoustic bliss. Dreamy chords sit with melting vocal layering, resulting in a truly stunning record that defies a 'sounds like' comparison.
WHAT Album Dialogue is out on BMG, but no singles will be released until 2005. Catch them at low-key London shows until then.
WHO 18-year-old Ciara is the latest pretty face to front a killer commercial r 'n' b track ripe for pop cross-over. The oh-so original mix of bling, babes and booty shows no sign of going out of chart style; this girl follows the Ashanti model of success rather than the more empowered Beyonce.
WHY Written and produced by crunk master Lil Jon (of Usher's Yeah fame), Ciara's debut Goodies is jammed full of mesmeric vocals and infectious beats that are impossible to resist. Currently storming America, she's sure to turn to our shores for domination.
WHAT Import only for the forseeable future, this is a track that will drive you mad with airplay by the time it's eventually released.
Marilyn Manson:
Personal Jesus
The video to this cover-version-by-overwraught-post-metal-numbers reads like a 'How to offend Middle America'. Nazi posters, check. Goth stripping cheerleaders, check. Baptism sacrilege, yawn. Now, if he were to release something original and sincere, well now, that would be truly shocking.
Dogs Die in Hot Cars:
Lounger
A sharp, infectious anthem for students who miss daytime TV already. The angular chords are wholly incongruous with the lazy lifestyle they promote, which only adds to the brilliance of their selfish indulgence. One to play loudly as reading lists go abandoned.
Rooster:
Come Get Some
What exactly are this latest bunch ("We're not a boyband, honest. Look: real instruments!") inviting us to partake of? Derivative rhythms, inane lyrics, wannabe power solos or all of the above?
6th Oct 2004