eardrumConundrum

Up until a week ago, I had never heard of ‘One Direction’.  Since they’ve recently been in the country and wreaked complete havoc, I feel the need to weigh in on the mania. I’ve never seen anything like it, pre-teen and teen girls COMPLETELY HYSTERICAL.

I’m an indie, alternative rock, alternative pop darling and this is probably how One Direction slipped past my radar. I am well and truly past my teens, but I unashamedly admit I grew up a fan of the ultimate boy bands of the 90’s: Backstreet Boys, Boy Zone, Take That, 5ive, Blue, Human Nature. These were some of the most wonderful childhood memories - Gushing over Nick Carter and talking about which band member is my type/favourite (Louis in One Direction’s case, girls ;)), guessing which band member is singing which verse, choreographing dances to their cheesy songs and making admiration clubs dedicated to these bands in primary school. Cut these boys and their fan girls some slack. These will be some of the most memorable moments of their childhood and some, not all, will grow to develop a better, more refined taste in music and understand the difference between a singer and an artist. After all, N*SYNC did give us Justin Timberlake and his funky tunes following the band’s demise. Organic is better we know, but being put together is the ‘boy-band’ way. It’s the feature that defines ‘boy-band’, that and those dance moves where they do that jump with a change in beat, that pointing hand move they do and that running into the corner thing the whole group does to bop together – y’all know what I’m talking about.

These One Direction boys were individual contestants on The UK’s X-Factor, they were put together and BAM hello hit-makers, heart-breakers and money-makers. Simon Cowell knows what he’s doing that’s for sure. These boys are British/Irish, surprisingly articulate for their age and have a great stylist (albeit a little metro for me, but it works). They’re top 5, I hear, the world over - testament to the power of the teen masses. So I’m pretty sure they’re laughing and we’re cringing. But I have to say, they bring back my boy-band memories. 1D, I can’t promise complete and utter commitment like your hysterical fan girls, but you’ve got a fan in me ;).

One Direction | ‘Up All Night’

Who doesn’t want to be told that their hair-flipping makes these dapper boys – Louis, Zayn, Harry, Liam, Niall – feel overwhelmed? This album features 13 tracks and a consistent theme flows throughout - young love.  ‘What Makes You Beautiful’, ‘One Thing’ and ‘Everything About You’ are catchy numbers indeed.  The start of ‘Gotta Be You’ sounds like The Verve’s ‘Bittersweet Symphony’. Lyrically it’s boy bandish - the fuzziness of new love and the perils of love gone wrong. As for vocal versatility there’s not much there, but they have nice angelic voices. A favourite is the club track - ‘Stole My Heart’, there’s an intermission at the end with the distinct boy band croon, which then switches back to the catchy club beat. David Guetta would be proud. All in all, ‘Up All Night’ is everything you’d expect for their genre - poptastic boy band grooves, nothing special, but tunes that are definitely on my karaoke list.

1D, I can see the possibility of longevity. I’ll be watching, because you’ve forced your way into all our lives. I’m just glad I can embrace, because I’m pretty sure a lot of people’s ears are bleeding. In the words of an exceptional boy band (they’re not a boy band, but they’re all male), world-class musicians and pioneers of the best live music - The Cat Empire – “Music is the language of us all”. Each to his own. eC.

Coachella from the comfort of my home. One day I’ll actually be there. But until then… thank you technology!

The dates for Prince’s upcoming Australian tour have been announced! Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne will be graced with the iconic, flamboyant music icon in May for what is expected to be a spectacular stage show. eC.

Allphones Arena, NSW | Friday 11th May 2012

Rod Laver Arena, VIC | Monday 14th May 2012

Brisbane Entertainment Centre, QLD | Friday 18th May 2012 

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/books/new-chapter-with-go-it-alone-awards/story-fn9412vp-1226319431730#ixzz1rATwUxN9

Pull your socks up Campbell. Goodness gracious, guess QLDers should brace themselves for more of this nonsense?

I just wanna don my cons and get a groovin’ to this tune y’all ;)

Woah ELECTRONICA, bit of an 80’s groove too. A very different sound for Kimbra, but I like it. Show’s her versatility. Can definitely hear the Mark Foster/Foster the People influences there.

Oh no! Just watched Glee’s cover of Gotye’s song ’Somebody That I Used to Know’…. I refuse to post it. But hooray to much deserved exposure for Wally and Kimbra!