Haiti

Hey we just want to mention that when you buy tickets for our next night on We Got Tickets, and we hope you do as it's going to be epic, you have the option to donate a sum of your choice for the earthquake victims of Haiti. If you haven't already done so please consider giving whatever you can. Buy ticket.

London Indiepop I-Spy. Harmless fun or a licence for carnage?

Not sure whether I think this is brilliant, hilarious or terrifying. From Man Ill Kid's blog 'Ill and Ancient':

London Indiepop EyeSpy

Rules
1. Points given for Eye-Spying Indiepop people in and around London
2. No points for yourself
3. You don't get points for the same Spyee twice
4. Points are awarded at the first instance
5. Double points for sleeping with, having sex with, or assaulting the Spyee
6. Final score for any 24 hour period

All rules are debatable

Other rules
7. Extra half point if the Spyee is doing their shopping in a supermarket
8. Extra point if they're wearing a hipster stripey top
9. Minus points for considering talking to the Spyee, but not following through
10. No points for spotting bands at their own gig

Bands and Artists
Pocketbooks - 4 points per member
The Loves - 3 points per member/former member
The Bobby McGees - 3 points per member (no points for calling Jimmy Bobby)
MJ Hibbett and the Validators - 3 points per member
Tender Trap - 2 points per member
Moustache of Insanity - 2 points per member
Allo Darlin - 2 points per member
Veronica Falls - 2 points per member
Arthur and Martha - 2 points per member
Electrophonvintage - 2 points per member
White Town - 2 points per member
Darren Hayman - 2 points per member
Comet Gain - 1 point per member

Scenesters
Kitten Painting - 3 points
Bob Underexposed - 3 points
Ill and Ancient - 1 point
John Marshall - 2 points
Nat Davis - 3 points
Camilla - 3 points

Promoters
Trevor OddBox - 2 points
String Bean Jen - 2 points
Ian HDIF - 3 points
TomB - 3 points
The Twee As Fuck ladies - 2 points
Anastacsia So Tough So Cute Baby Honey - 2 points
Rory So Tough So Cute Baby Honey - 1 point
Crystalball - 3 points
El Presidente - 1 point
Team Come Out 2Nite - 2 points per member

DJs
Rocker Rosehip - 3 points
Steve Lemaqc - 4 points

Afternoon Naps mini-interview.

'Orange Paw' was one of those songs that became an instant favourite the first time you heard it. The soundtrack to a summer, it lead me to Afternoon Naps debut LP Sunbeamed, and a huge popcrush was developed. In 2009 the band repeated the trick with the outstanding single 'Mitten Fingers' (which made my Top 20 songs of the year) and subsequent album Parade. Here, co-songwriter/singer-in-chief Tom, answers a few questions...

Baby Honey: Hello Naps! What are The Afternoon Naps songs (or LPs, or popshows) of the year?

AN: Last year my absolute favourite song was "Christmas Island" by Lake. Followed closely by "Horoscope" from Cats on Fire, the LPs by both bands were great too. The POBPAH is an obvious one, but classic nonetheless. Mostly I listen to more older stuff, obscure soul and pop psych 45s, and 80's jangle get top billing in my stereo usually, Dee Dee Warwick, Tammi Terrell type stuff.

BH: And what does 2010 hold for The Naps? Last time we met you drove us across a big bridge in a van with no brakes; do you have any plans for further death-defying stunts?

AN: Ha! yes driving across the Williamsburg bridge with you at 4am in our brakeless van is one of my life's favourite moments. I will never ever forget that. Anyhow.....In 2010 we have lots of cool things happening. We're actually playing a show with Ronnie Spector this week! She's one of my idols and never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that would happen. Other than that I think we're looking at a bunch of small releases, some split 7"s and a 12" EP for sure. We'd like to tour this summer and fall too.

BH: When are you coming to the UK? Can we book you now? You can stay in our houses, drink tea and eat marmite on toast whilst watching The Bill, it'll be ace.

AN: I want to get us to the UK soon. I'm hoping the situation presents itself and is do-able financially, too. It's pretty expensive for a tiny band like us but, if we can get some help getting over there, then absolutely yes. The label was trying to maybe set one up this summer but not sure if it's gonna happen yet or not. Pencil me in for tea and marmite, I'll make it happen somehow.

BH: You've kindly allowed us to make 'Mitten Fingers' downloadable for our readers (or at least you haven't asked us to take it down yet), anything else knocking around on mp3 we could give them if they promise to go buy the album?

AN: I've attached a rare acoustic home demo of Orange Paw. I'm pretty sure you'll be into that!

BH: How's Cleveland? We haven't been there yet, but I imagine that you guys spend you days hanging out with Bears and making music in your basement. Is that close? Do you have day jobs? Where's the best place to get take-out? How are the Browns doing this year?

AN: Cleveland is hanging in there. We've got Craig from Bears playing drums for us now and we practice in his basement so YES your assumption is right on. Sadly, yes we all have day jobs. Our band consists of two teachers, a spa therapist, and a receptionist. Take out from Melt, an all grilled cheese restaurant cannot be beat! And the Browns, well if you know anything about Cleveland sports, is that it's a pretty dismal affair most years... but we love them unconditionally I guess.

BH: Tell us a secret.

AN: We're working on a secret set of covers only to be played at parties and encores.

BH: Do you have any tattoos?

AN: As far as I know only one of us has one - that's Leia - and it's of Pee Wee Herman's face. No joke.. she's a big fan.

Afternoon Naps: Orange Paw (Rare Acoustic Demo)

King and the Olive Fields release debut single!

We first saw King and The Olive Fields when they came and played Twee As F**k and instantly fell for their beautifully constructed uke-folk. So it was with great joy that we learned that the band will be self-releasing their debut 10" EP 'Fireworks' on Monday 22nd February. It will be available in a number of record shops and a special limited edition will be on sale exclusively at Puregroove. You can also pre-order the single from the band's myspace.

The band will also be launching the EP with a show at The Duke of Uke on Friday February 12th; and anyone going along to that will be able to get in to Baby Honey later that night for the discounted price of £2!

Here's the second song from the EP, the lovely 'Postcards'. King and the Olive Fields: Postcards (Download)

Baby Honey #002 with Shrag, Northern Portrait and Still Corners

Hey lovelies!
Our next night is on February 12th and as always it's at the Buffalo Bar!

There will be a massive indiepop danceparty at 2330-ish but before that you're going to be seeing three great bands
We've got Shrag headlining whose mighty Rabbit Kids song is featured on quite a few best of lists. And they have a song about Mark E. Smith and I think we all can agree that it doesn't get better than that. And then we have Northern Portrait straight outta Copenhagen, Denmark who play the kind of perfectly sophisticated guitar pop that recalls the likes of Morrisey and Marr in their prime. We also have Still Corners who'll start of the night with their lush electronic take on pop!

Your record selectors for the night will be Baby Honeys Anastasia, Rory and Daniel of So Tough! So Cute!
 
Buy a ticket today and start getting ready for a great night out come February
Baby Honey #002
Friday 12 February 2010 at 9:00pm
Buffalo Bar
259 Upper Street, Highbury Corner
London N1 1RU
United Kingdom
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Tender Trap live at Baby Honey

From our first night

Baby Honeys Best of 2009

A wee bit late but here are our best of 2009 lists! We've made our favourite tracks downloadable but as always we encourage you to go buy the tracks you like.

Anastasias top 20 of 2009

(In alphabetical order out of fairness!)
Download

Blanche Hudson Weekend - Noise And Fury

The Letters To Daddy EP (Squirrel)

Brilliant Colors – Absolutely Anything

Introducing LP (Slumberland)

Bye Bye Bicycle - Navigation

Compass LP (Bonjour)

Crystal Stilts – Love Is A Wave

Love Is A Wave 7” (Slumberland)

Eux Autres - Under Rays

Strangled Days 12" (Where It’s At Is Where You Are)

Frankie Rose - Thee Only One

Thee Only One 7" (Slumberland)

Hari and Aino - On My Usual Catch Up With Cecilia

Pick’N’Mix Compilation (Bubblegum Records

Je Suis Animal – The Mystery of Marie Roger

Self-Taught Magic From A Book (Angular)

Liechtenstein – The End Of The World

Everything’s For Sale (Drill Building)

Moofish Catfish – Two Of A Kind

Yours To Share (Cosy)

The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - Twins

Higher Than The Stars 12" (Fortuna Pop!)

Pastels/Tenniscoats - About You

Two Sunsets LP (Geographic/Domino)

Sound of Arrows - M.A.G.I.C.

M.A.G.I.C. LP (Labrador)

Stars in Coma - In The Machinery Of Night

Sisters LP (Music Is My Girlfriend)

The Champagne Socialists - Blue Genes

Blue Genes 7" Vinyl (Slumberland)

The Depreciation Guild - Butterfly Kisses

In Her Gentle Jaws (Kanine)

The Just Joans – I Won’t Survive

Love and Other Hideous Accidents 3” (WeePop!)

The Legends - Seconds Away

Over and Over LP (Labrador)

The Parallelograms - Dream On Daisy

Dream On Daisy 3" (Cloudberry)

Transmittens – Meet Me At The Swings

Our Dreams 3” (WeePop!)

Album of the year:

Cats On Fire – Our Temperance Movement

(How Does It Feel To Be Loved?)

This fine Finnish lot never ceases to amaze, especially with the year’s offering of Our Temperance Movement. With a mixture of bizarre romanticism and odd cynicism, this album whooshes through emotions, lead by Mattias’ flowing vocals and remarkable lyrics (thank goodness for those sleeve inserts!). Perfect soundtrack for occasions ranging from a springtime drive in the country to a winter’s hibernation session in your room to watching your mum dance around silly in the summertime (the latter being a FACT). And let’s not fail to mention the fantastic performance by those Cats at this year’s Indietracks, including the spectacular cover of White Town’s ‘Your Woman’. Thank heavens for that. P.S.: As a lovely end-of-the-year treat, those folks at Cosy have a new Cats on Fire single free for download. Go grab it! http://www.cosyrecordings.com/cosy024.html

Gig of the year:

The Pastels/Tenniscoats performing Baby Honey at Bush Hall, September 2009. Enough said.

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Rorys top 20 of 2009
Download

The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - Young Adult Friction

Camera Obscura - French Navy

Veronica Falls - Beachy Head

Shrag - Rabbit Kids

Help Stamp Out Lonliness - Plastic Trash Vortex

Betty And The Werewolves - David Cassidy

The Bobby McGee's - Go Tiger Go

Eux Autres - Queen Turner

Liechtenstein - Roses In The Park

Brilliant Colors - Over There

Sourpatch - I Want You Either Way

Crystal Stilts - Love Is A Wave

The Drums - Let's Go Surfing (Knight School Mix)

Pastels/Tenniscoats - Vivid Youth

'Allo Darlin - Henry Rollins Don't Dance

The Blanche Hudson Weekend - The Last Ride

Cause Co-Motion! - Because Because Because

The Champagne Socialists - Blue Genes

Afternoon Naps - Mitten Fingers

Smittens - What Do We Do Now

Best Album

Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart
Yes it's the obvious one. But how could it not be? Released at the start of the year The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart's debut LP has probably been the record I've listened to most over the past twelve months and I'm still not bored of it. Fresh sounding, with immaculate pop nous and, probably most importantly, an unashamed sense of fun, this record is a modern classic that more than justified the hype.

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Daniels best of the rest 2009

I've listed all my favourite tracks at the So Tough! So Cute! blog already and you can download them here.

Best compilations

Yeti Magazine issue 7 and 8 (Yeti Publishing)

Yeti is really more of a book than a magazine and with every issue you get an absolutely amazing collection of rare and unreleased track by bands like Ty Segall, Fergus & Geronimo, Vaselines, the Great Unwashed, Fresh & Onlys. I've discovered loads of bands through these compilations and I urge you to get a copy as soon as you can. Highly recommended.

va - World's Lousy With Ideas Vol. 8 LP (Almost Ready Records)

Almost Ready have released these compilations since 2006 and I would almost like to include volumes 1-7 as well as I didn't discover them until this year and they have tracks of almost all the bands I really liked this year. All contain fantastic tracks by Tyvek, Times New Viking, Guinea Worms, Sic Alps and many more bands.

Best Albums
By the end of the year I honestly did think that where any great albums released in 2009 except for the PENS LP which blew away all the competition. Luckily I was proved wrong the last few days of the year so here are 5 more albums I really like

Home Blitz - Out Of Phase (Ritchie)
I hadn't hear about Home Blitz until my friend Martin procclaimed that it was the best album of the year sometime early December while I was gearing up to DJ at the mighty Upset The Rhythm club in London. The first song I took to was 'Is Anybody There?' (which ended up on my best tracks of 2009 list) with it's Daniel Johnston-y take on the Byrds but I kept listening to the album, even though I'm one of those who falls in love with one song and then mostly forgets about the rest, but for every repeated listen it grew on me with it's super naive take on... well Pop and Pop lyrics. Much like the PENS, Home Blitz sounds like they, actually he as Daniel Dimaggio seems to be the only member, stumbled upon some instruments while being home and bored and a tape recorder just happened to be in the room. The CD's been out for a while but the LP just came out so go order it right away. There is also an extensive interview here with Home Blitz.

The Fresh And Onlys - Grey-Eyed Girl (Woodsist)
A great album through and through and actually the second (or maybe even third as there seems to be a cassette that's somehow avoided my grasp) they released this year. But this is the one to get if you like your songs filled with pop melodies and great lyrics. 'I'm Gonna Be Your Elevator' is the lost little sister to Speeding Motorcycle

Times New Viking - Born Again Revisited (Matador)

Another great album that took a while to get into. 'Move To California' was the song that kept me warm during the cold snowy London days but tracks like 'No Time, No Hope', 'Hustler, Psycho, Son' and 'City On Drugs' kept dragging me back to this great album.

Chain And The Gang - Down With Liberty... Up With Chains! (K)
It's a bit uneven in places but this album by Ian Svenonius of Make-Up has some really great songs. 'Unpronouncable Name' is quite frankly fucking awesome but there are other songs like 'What Is A Dollar?', 'Deathbed Confession' and of course the 'Interview With The Chain Gang' that lift this album.