Video: Laura Marling - The Needle & The Damage Done.

While many artists have attempted to cover various Neil Young songs over the years and some very badly (I'm looking at you Tori Amos and Duran Duran), it's always quite a treat when someone gets it right. Last month Laura Marling released a version of The Needle And The Damage Done and it's superb.

The track was produced by Jack White who seems to have a great knack for producing quality country rock tracks and the video is also a very nice and clever animation by Redman and Sasufi. Enjoy!

Video: Gorillaz Feat. Snoop - Welcome To The World Of The Plastic Beach

The mighty Snoop teamed up with Gorillaz earlier this year for the intro song on Plastic Beach, with Welcome To The World Of The Plastic Beach and they have just released the video to it. Snoop is on Plastic Beach and looks quite dapper in this top hat and embellished tail coat but I don't think you could expect anything less.

Live Photos: LCD Soundystem Live In Tripod November 21st 2010

Last Sunday saw LCD Soundsystem take to the stage for a third time over the weekend to ensure it was one of the gigs of the year in Tripod, Dublin. Being a Sunday and a busy gig weekend about town, I almost expected a subdued crowd in Tripod, but wonderfully that was not the case as James Murphy and his band of merry men and woman, slammed out two fantastic hours of non stop party filled tunes. Personal favourites Losing My Edge and Someone Great were outstanding, while Yeah almost had the roof lift off the building. All My Friends finished the nights proceedings and the tingling down my spine told me that we were witnessing something quite special.

Here are some photos I took on the night and if you happened to miss it, do yourself a favour and go see them if they ever come back.

James Murphy

Pat Mahony


Nancy Whang

James Murphy

Dave Scott Stone

You can view more LCD photos HERE.

Halves - Growing & Glow Featuring Jennifer Evans Live On The View

It Goes, It Goes (Forever & Ever) from Halves is one of my favourite releases of 2010. The intricacy on each track is simply quite stunning and the one track in particular that I have taken to listening to the most from the album is Growing & Glow. Last night they performed a gorgeous version on RTE's The View with Jennifer Evans on vocals. The album version features Metric front woman and Broken Social Scene member Amy Milan but this recording with Jennifer is equally as wonderful.

Live Photos: Paramore Live @ The O2 November 6th 2010

On Saturday November 6th, Paramore played in Dublin's O2 arena to a heroes welcome. I was lucky enough to have a photo pass on the night ans below are some of the shots I took of Hayley Williams and Co. with Williams sporting a shiny new pink hair do to kick off their European tour.

Hayley Williams

Jeremy Davis & Hayley Williams

Josh Farro

Taylor York

Hayley Williams

You can view the full Paramore set HERE and a big thanks to Warner Music Ireland for the photo pass.

Video: Shit Robot - Take 'Em Up featuring Nancy Whang

Shit Robot has released one of my favourite dance albums of 2010 with From The Cradle To The Grave. A real treat for dance fans this year. Take 'Em Up featuring Nancy Whang of LCD Soundsystem fame on vocals in particular, is an electro disco anthem in it's itself with it's breezy vocal and synth-tastic rhythms. The video has just premiered over at Pitchfork and it was directed by fellow Irish man Eoghan Kidney who has in the past been responsible for some gorgeous video's from Somadrone and Valerie Francis and this is as equally masterful.

Video: Shobaleader One - Megazine

Squarepusher has joined a band or at least created one with "a bunch of people you may or not have heard of from other bands and projects" called Shobaleader One. In and interview over on the Warp Records site, Tom Jenkins reveals the aim of Shobaleader One "The overall aim is to articulate my music through the medium of a band. I always thought that a band would be a limiting thing. I've got very used to being able to make music by programming or playing without having to explain anything to anyone, and I assumed it would slow everything down if I had to. Actually it has made it quicker because I'm not trying to be four people simultaneously any more".

The first track to get some airing from the their first full length LP d'Demonstrator, is Megazine. A little like Daft Punk if they combined some heavy metal riffs with their electro disco madness - which I like. 
d'Demonstrator is out now on Warp Records.