Posted in Album of the Month, Music chat, New Albums, New Tunes, Playlists, podcast, Spin it or Bin It, Tracks of the Month, Uncategorized

Podcast Ep. 44 | Yard Act | Where’s My Utopia

Ep. 44 | Yard Act | Where's My Utopia? This Is Not Happening – An Album Of The Month Podcast

Welcome to Episode 44 of This is Not Happening.  An Album of the Month Podcast where in Part 1 we deep dive into an Album that one of us has chosen and in Part 2 we play 'Spin it or Bin it'.  This is where we pick a theme and each select a song that represents that theme. We judge each others selections by asking the question 'Spin It or Bin It'?This month, in Part 1, we wrestle with the 2nd album from Yard Act titled 'Where's My Utopia?'.  This month we're in the capable hands of Guy who has been a Yard Act fan for some time, choosing their debut album as his Album of the Year in 2022. 66.6% of the team agree with him but 33.3% of the team has found the album more of a struggle.Part 1 | Yard Act | Where's My Utopia?Yard act are an interesting proposition, they are perhaps the most knowingly Northern band since Oasis. They seem to be everywhere and it's tough to find someone who doesn't like them. They are very clearly 'Post Punk' but their definition of what this means has changed somewhat with this album. We ask the standard quesiton, what did you expect and what did you get plus questions about Listen to the album here.Watch some videos here.Buy some stuff here.Buy some tickets to see them live here.Read some stuff here and listen to some pods here and here.Part 2 | Spin It or Bin It | 'Spoken Word'Given the AOTM is Yard Act, we chose to look at our favourite Spoken Word tracks. And 3 of us actually chose a Spoken Word track … one of us chose something else but let's leave that and let us know if you agree with me that it was not Spoken Word. Our chosen 4 tracks can be found on a play list here. In order to chose a track we each shortlist 4 tracks each, a combined 16 track playlist can be found here.Nolan chose – 'SpottieOttieDopalicious' by Outkast.Guy chose -''The Revolution will not be Televised' by Gil Scott Heron.Joey chose – 'Loosing My Edge'  by LCD SoundsystemDavid chose – 'O Superman'  by Laurie AndersonSee you on Episode 44! We've been writing the blog for years come and have a look – https://thisisnothappening.net/
  1. Ep. 44 | Yard Act | Where's My Utopia?
  2. Ep. 43 | Helado Negro | Phasor
  3. Ep. 42 | Aesop Rock | Integrated Tech Solutions
  4. Ep. 41 | Lana Del Rey | … Ocean Blvd.
  5. Ep.40 | 2023 Review | Top 10 Albums & Tracks of the Year

Welcome to Episode 44 of This is Not Happening.  An Album of the Month Podcast where in Part 1 we deep dive into an Album that one of us has chosen and in Part 2 we play ‘Spin it or Bin it’.  This is where we pick a theme and each select a song that represents that theme. We judge each others selections by asking the question ‘Spin It or Bin It’?

This month, in Part 1, we wrestle with the 2nd album from Yard Act titled ‘Where’s My Utopia?’.  This month we’re in the capable hands of Guy who has been a Yard Act fan for some time, choosing their debut album as his Album of the Year in 2022. 66.6% of the team agree with him but 33.3% of the team has found the album more of a struggle.

Part 1 | Yard Act | Where’s My Utopia?

Yard act are an interesting proposition, they are perhaps the most knowingly Northern band since Oasis. They seem to be everywhere and it’s tough to find someone who doesn’t like them. They are very clearly ‘Post Punk’ but their definition of what this means has changed somewhat with this album. We ask the standard question, what did you expect and what did you get plus questions about 

  • Listen to the album here.
  • Watch some videos here.
  • Buy some stuff here.
  • Buy some tickets to see them live here.
  • Read some stuff here and listen to some pods here and here.

Part 2 | Spin It or Bin It | ‘Spoken Word’

Given the AOTM is Yard Act, we chose to look at our favourite Spoken Word tracks. And 3 of us actually chose a Spoken Word track … one of us chose something else but let’s leave that and let us know if you agree with me that it was not Spoken Word. Our chosen 4 tracks can be found on a play list here. In order to chose a track we each shortlist 4 tracks each, a combined 16 track playlist can be found here.

See you soon for Episode 44!

Posted in Album of the Month, Music chat, New Albums, New Tunes, Playlists, podcast, Spin it or Bin It, Uncategorized

Episode 30 | Rozi Plain | Prize

Ep. 44 | Yard Act | Where's My Utopia? This Is Not Happening – An Album Of The Month Podcast

Welcome to Episode 44 of This is Not Happening.  An Album of the Month Podcast where in Part 1 we deep dive into an Album that one of us has chosen and in Part 2 we play 'Spin it or Bin it'.  This is where we pick a theme and each select a song that represents that theme. We judge each others selections by asking the question 'Spin It or Bin It'?This month, in Part 1, we wrestle with the 2nd album from Yard Act titled 'Where's My Utopia?'.  This month we're in the capable hands of Guy who has been a Yard Act fan for some time, choosing their debut album as his Album of the Year in 2022. 66.6% of the team agree with him but 33.3% of the team has found the album more of a struggle.Part 1 | Yard Act | Where's My Utopia?Yard act are an interesting proposition, they are perhaps the most knowingly Northern band since Oasis. They seem to be everywhere and it's tough to find someone who doesn't like them. They are very clearly 'Post Punk' but their definition of what this means has changed somewhat with this album. We ask the standard quesiton, what did you expect and what did you get plus questions about Listen to the album here.Watch some videos here.Buy some stuff here.Buy some tickets to see them live here.Read some stuff here and listen to some pods here and here.Part 2 | Spin It or Bin It | 'Spoken Word'Given the AOTM is Yard Act, we chose to look at our favourite Spoken Word tracks. And 3 of us actually chose a Spoken Word track … one of us chose something else but let's leave that and let us know if you agree with me that it was not Spoken Word. Our chosen 4 tracks can be found on a play list here. In order to chose a track we each shortlist 4 tracks each, a combined 16 track playlist can be found here.Nolan chose – 'SpottieOttieDopalicious' by Outkast.Guy chose -''The Revolution will not be Televised' by Gil Scott Heron.Joey chose – 'Loosing My Edge'  by LCD SoundsystemDavid chose – 'O Superman'  by Laurie AndersonSee you on Episode 44! We've been writing the blog for years come and have a look – https://thisisnothappening.net/
  1. Ep. 44 | Yard Act | Where's My Utopia?
  2. Ep. 43 | Helado Negro | Phasor
  3. Ep. 42 | Aesop Rock | Integrated Tech Solutions
  4. Ep. 41 | Lana Del Rey | … Ocean Blvd.
  5. Ep.40 | 2023 Review | Top 10 Albums & Tracks of the Year

In Part 1 we speak in depth about Rozi Plain’s new album ‘Prize’. It’s a curious, warming gem of an album that really needs to be talked about. In Part 2 we play ‘Spin it or bin it?’, the theme this month is Protest Music.

Part 1 | Album of the Month | Rozi Plain | Prize

David’s choice this month is an artist that he has a long relationship with, Rozi Plain. Rozi was new to the rest of us so we were all playing catch up. I can’t remember an album that needs to be talked about (in real life, with human beings) as Prize.  You will hear me processing what I actually feel about the album, live, while we discuss it. I think I probably come out of the discussion with a slightly different conclusion to the one that I had at the start. All good albums get better with more attention but this one absolutely demands it.

Please, please, please go and give it a listen. I think most people will find something that they love about this album.

  • Go listen to the album – HereorHere
  • Go watch some videos – Hereor Here
  • Go buy some of Rozi’s stuff – Here

We mention a few things that we’d highly recommend checking out, so here are the links;

  • The James McMahon podcast interview / chat with Rozi – Here
  • Sophie Walker’s Guardian album review – Here
  • Pitchfork album review – Here
  • Konstantinos Papis’s interview for Our Culture – Here

Part 2 | Spin It or Bin It | Protest Music

We all pick a track based on a theme, present the track and ask the simple question, Spin it or Bin it? The theme this month is a simple one ‘Protest Music’. There are no limitations or rules this month other than, as always, we try to bring new music or a new context to each other.

  1. Guy chose – ‘Take the Power Back’  by Rage Against the Machine
  2. David Chose – ‘Ship Building’ by Elvis Costello & the Attractions
  3. Joey chose – ‘Reagan’ by Killer Mike
  4. Nolan chose – Four Women’ by Nina Simone

A 16 track Protest Music playlist (4 tracks each) can be found – Here

Next Month

Guy brings Young Fathers ‘Heavy Heavy’ for Album of the Month and we play ‘Spin It or Bin It?’ with Post-Genre tracks.

We’ve been writing a blog for years come and have a look – https://thisisnothappening.net/

Posted in Album of the Month, Music chat, New Albums, New Tunes, podcast, Spin it or Bin It, Tracks of the Month, Uncategorized

Podcast Episode | Sudan Archives | Natural Brown Prom Queen

Ep. 44 | Yard Act | Where's My Utopia? This Is Not Happening – An Album Of The Month Podcast

Welcome to Episode 44 of This is Not Happening.  An Album of the Month Podcast where in Part 1 we deep dive into an Album that one of us has chosen and in Part 2 we play 'Spin it or Bin it'.  This is where we pick a theme and each select a song that represents that theme. We judge each others selections by asking the question 'Spin It or Bin It'?This month, in Part 1, we wrestle with the 2nd album from Yard Act titled 'Where's My Utopia?'.  This month we're in the capable hands of Guy who has been a Yard Act fan for some time, choosing their debut album as his Album of the Year in 2022. 66.6% of the team agree with him but 33.3% of the team has found the album more of a struggle.Part 1 | Yard Act | Where's My Utopia?Yard act are an interesting proposition, they are perhaps the most knowingly Northern band since Oasis. They seem to be everywhere and it's tough to find someone who doesn't like them. They are very clearly 'Post Punk' but their definition of what this means has changed somewhat with this album. We ask the standard quesiton, what did you expect and what did you get plus questions about Listen to the album here.Watch some videos here.Buy some stuff here.Buy some tickets to see them live here.Read some stuff here and listen to some pods here and here.Part 2 | Spin It or Bin It | 'Spoken Word'Given the AOTM is Yard Act, we chose to look at our favourite Spoken Word tracks. And 3 of us actually chose a Spoken Word track … one of us chose something else but let's leave that and let us know if you agree with me that it was not Spoken Word. Our chosen 4 tracks can be found on a play list here. In order to chose a track we each shortlist 4 tracks each, a combined 16 track playlist can be found here.Nolan chose – 'SpottieOttieDopalicious' by Outkast.Guy chose -''The Revolution will not be Televised' by Gil Scott Heron.Joey chose – 'Loosing My Edge'  by LCD SoundsystemDavid chose – 'O Superman'  by Laurie AndersonSee you on Episode 44! We've been writing the blog for years come and have a look – https://thisisnothappening.net/
  1. Ep. 44 | Yard Act | Where's My Utopia?
  2. Ep. 43 | Helado Negro | Phasor
  3. Ep. 42 | Aesop Rock | Integrated Tech Solutions
  4. Ep. 41 | Lana Del Rey | … Ocean Blvd.
  5. Ep.40 | 2023 Review | Top 10 Albums & Tracks of the Year

Guess who’s back. Back again. TINH’s back. Tell a friend.

This month, in Part 1 we go deep on this month’s Album of the Month by Sudan Archives. In Part 2 we play ‘Spin It or Bin It’, where we choose a theme and each bring our choice of tracks. This month the theme is ‘Our own personal entrance music’.

Part 1 | Album of the Month | Sudan Archives | Natural Brown Prom Queen

It’s my (Joey’s) choice this month and we’ve gone with a belter of a sophomore album by Sudan Archives that easily claims the best titled album of the year ‘Natural Brown Prom Queen’  

If you’ve not heard it and this inspires you … 

  • Go listen to the album – Here
  • Go watch some videos – Here
  • Go buy some merch – here

(personally I’ve got my eye on the ‘I just wanna get my titties out’ t-shirt –here)

As always we kick off with what we expected from the album and what we got. Then we explore favorite tracks, sequencing of the album, why ‘OMG Britt’ nearly ruined the whole thing for Guy’, the creative process of making the album and the influences that we hear.

We mention a few things that we’d highly recommend checking out, so here are the links;

Part 2 | Spin It or Bin It | ‘Our own personal entrance music’

The theme for Spin It or Bin It is a bit different this month. We’re choosing our ‘Entrance Music’ and describing the event or circumstances that we’re entering. If that doesn’t make too much sense, just listen to the episode!  This month, the 4 tracks were …

  1. David chose – Adriano Celentano | L’Unica Chance (plus David’s blog post)
  2. Joey chose – Joey Valance and Brae (Feat. Logic) | Tanaka 2 (plus Joey’s blog post)
  3. Guy chose – The Beastie Boys | Sabotage  (plus Guy’s blog post)
  4. Nolan chose – Macklemore and Ryan Lewis | Can’t Hold Us (plus Nolan’s blog post)

Next Month

The big one! The end of year review. Hold on tight. 
We count down our 10 favourite albums of the year, featuring lots of moaning about David’s album scoring algorithm. We also present our tracks of the year. Can you sum up the year musically in one track? It’s a lot tougher than you’d think.

Other episodes of the pod and 10 years of the blog;

If you enjoyed this episode, please check out the others. If that’s not enough for you then there’s 10 years worth of music discussion on the blog at www.thisisnothappening.net, which runs alongside the podcast choices and much, much more. 

Posted in Uncategorized

Song for an Entrance | Nolan

I had THE BEST intro song, or so I thought until I played it for my wife. It was a fight song, it was gritty, aggressive and punched you in the face. When I played it for my wife she looked at me with disgust. ‘What’s this shit? This isn’t you?!’. She then put this track on. ‘This is your intro!’. She was right. I never want to fight anyone, I want to enter a room and make people smile, I want high 5’s, I want memories, I want hands up like the ceiling can’t hold us!

There is no scenario that this song shouldn’t be played. In fact, it’s gritty, it’s a fight song, it’s aggressive, but people will hug, smile, cry, run, walk, dance, love and motivate to it. This is actually the first song that I don’t care if it looses in spin it or bin it… this is my intro / outro and theme song.

Put me in a Western movie, walking into school as a youth, getting out of the bed..shower.. ready for work scene…. Get this on!

Posted in Uncategorized

Podcast Episode 15 – Lonelady – Former Things

Ep. 44 | Yard Act | Where's My Utopia? This Is Not Happening – An Album Of The Month Podcast

Welcome to Episode 44 of This is Not Happening.  An Album of the Month Podcast where in Part 1 we deep dive into an Album that one of us has chosen and in Part 2 we play 'Spin it or Bin it'.  This is where we pick a theme and each select a song that represents that theme. We judge each others selections by asking the question 'Spin It or Bin It'?This month, in Part 1, we wrestle with the 2nd album from Yard Act titled 'Where's My Utopia?'.  This month we're in the capable hands of Guy who has been a Yard Act fan for some time, choosing their debut album as his Album of the Year in 2022. 66.6% of the team agree with him but 33.3% of the team has found the album more of a struggle.Part 1 | Yard Act | Where's My Utopia?Yard act are an interesting proposition, they are perhaps the most knowingly Northern band since Oasis. They seem to be everywhere and it's tough to find someone who doesn't like them. They are very clearly 'Post Punk' but their definition of what this means has changed somewhat with this album. We ask the standard quesiton, what did you expect and what did you get plus questions about Listen to the album here.Watch some videos here.Buy some stuff here.Buy some tickets to see them live here.Read some stuff here and listen to some pods here and here.Part 2 | Spin It or Bin It | 'Spoken Word'Given the AOTM is Yard Act, we chose to look at our favourite Spoken Word tracks. And 3 of us actually chose a Spoken Word track … one of us chose something else but let's leave that and let us know if you agree with me that it was not Spoken Word. Our chosen 4 tracks can be found on a play list here. In order to chose a track we each shortlist 4 tracks each, a combined 16 track playlist can be found here.Nolan chose – 'SpottieOttieDopalicious' by Outkast.Guy chose -''The Revolution will not be Televised' by Gil Scott Heron.Joey chose – 'Loosing My Edge'  by LCD SoundsystemDavid chose – 'O Superman'  by Laurie AndersonSee you on Episode 44! We've been writing the blog for years come and have a look – https://thisisnothappening.net/
  1. Ep. 44 | Yard Act | Where's My Utopia?
  2. Ep. 43 | Helado Negro | Phasor
  3. Ep. 42 | Aesop Rock | Integrated Tech Solutions
  4. Ep. 41 | Lana Del Rey | … Ocean Blvd.
  5. Ep.40 | 2023 Review | Top 10 Albums & Tracks of the Year

Episode 15 of This Is Not Happening heads to the north west of England with Manchester artist Lonelady’s third album, Former Things. After the heart-on-sleeve shogazey pop of Japanese Breakfast‘s Jubilee, Julie Campbell’s solo guitar/drums/synth template brings 8 tracks of post-punk, electronic fusion, with Guy at the helm!

In the second half of the episode, we stay in Manchester, each bringing a track from the city’s fabled music history to the table. Our shortlist is here, and Guy’s longlist lives here. Stick around and see what we thought of the picks:

Guy  – Zoe Abalone – Vortex
David – Paris Angels – Perfume
Joey – Pip Milett – Hard Life
Nolan  – Mr Scruff v Cyberpunks – A Space Disco Remix

September’s album of the month and all our new tracks, playlists, and chat from the past decade or more can be found on our blog at www.thisisnothappening.net, which runs alongside the podcast choices and much, much more. Head down there and hopefully you’ll like what we’re talking about and if you do, we’d love to hear from you on the socials (links below).

Episode #16 comes in the shape of Billie Eilish’s new album Happier Than Ever as David bring his pop-beingness back to the fore. That next episode will be landing before the end of October.

This Is Not Happening:
Created by JoeyNolanGuy and David.
Produced and Edited by Guy and Nolan.
Twitter: @thisisnothapng
Instagram: @thisisnothappeningpod
Email: thisisnothappeningpodcast@gmail.com
Reviews: www.ratethispodcast.com/thisisnothappening

Posted in Uncategorized

Podcast: Secret Santa Track Master Playlist

A few days ago in this post I wrote about our theme for ‘Tracks of the Month’ – basically we were all assigned a recipient to choose a track of the month for (Secret-Santa-Style). Stakes is High! High risk. High Anxiety. What if we choose something they hate!?

We decided we’d select 4 tracks for our recipient, one track of the month plus 3 reserves in case we already knew the chosen track. The playlist below features all 16 tracks that were chosen.

Enjoy and look out for Episode 11 coming … soon.

Posted in Uncategorized

2020 year end lists

Never has there been a year that we have looked forward to seeing the end of the year more than 2020. For all of the negatives one of the rare bright spots has been the music. As the world went through harrowing times, the artists of the world delivered some of the best albums and songs in recent memory.

We’re going to be talking through our collective top albums of the year on our December podcast. Ahead of that we thought we would share our personal top 10 albums and our favourite tracks of the year, which we’ve created a playlist for all to enjoy!

Nolan

Top 10 Albums

1. Sault – Untitled (Black Is)

2. Run The Jewels – RTJ4

3. Caribou – Suddenly

4, Marlowe – Marlowe 2

5. Phoebe Bridgers – Punisher

6. Royce 5’9 – the Allegory

7. Sa Roc – The Sharecropper’s Daughter

8. Romare – Home

9. Mac Miller – Circles

10. Dua Lipa – Future Nostalgia

Favourite tracks of the year (in no particular order)

Royce 5’9 – Tricked

Aesop Rock – Drums On The Wheel

Phoebe Bridges – Garden Song

Sa Roc – deliverance

Troy Kingi – All Your Ships Have Sailed

Jayda G – Both Of Us

Disclosure – Tondo

Michael Mayer – Higher

Run The Jewels – Ooh La La

Marlowe – Otherworld

Guy

Top 10 Albums

1. Sault – Untitled [Black Is]

2. Caribou – Suddenly

3. Sault – Untitled [Rise]

4. Róisín Murphy – Róisín Machine

5. Run the Jewels – RTJ4

6. Kelly Lee Owens – Inner Song

7. Jessie Ware – What’s Your Pleasure

8. Doves – The Universal Want

9. Laura Marling – Song For Our Daughter

10. The Vision – The Vision

Favourite tracks of the year (in no particular order)

Yves Tumor – Gospel For A New Century

Khruangbin – Time (You and I)

SAULT – Don’t Shoot Guns Down

Róisín Murphy; Soulwax – Something More – Soulwax Remix

Holy Fuck; Alexis Taylor – Luxe

Caribou – Home

Mim Suleiman – Mingi

Katy J Pearson – Take Back The Radio

Doves – Prisoners

Run The Jewels – JU$T

Joey

Top 10 Albums

1. Sault – Untitled (Black Is)

2. Caribou – Suddenly

3. Run The Jewels – RTJ4

4. Laura Marling – Song for our Daughter

5. Phoebe Bridgers – Punisher

6. Kevin Morby – Sundowner

7. US Girls – Heavy Light

8. Mac Miller – Circles

9. J HUS – Big Conspiracy 

10. Sevdaliza – Shabrang

Favourite tracks of the year (in no particular order)

Run the Jewels – JU$T

Kevin Morby – Sundowner

Home – Caribou

Perfume Genius. – Your body changes everything

U.S. Girls – 4 American Dollars

Laura Marling – Held Down

Nilufer Yanya – Crash

La Vita Nuova –  Christine and the Queens

So We Don’t Forget – Khruangbin

Lamp Lady – Sevdaliza

David

Top 10 Albums

1. Sault – Untitled (Black Is)

2. Caribou – Suddenly

3. Run the Jewels – RTJ4

4. Waxahatchee – Saint Cloud

5. Roisin Murphy  – Machine

6. US Girls – Heavy Light

7. Loma  – Don’t Shy Away

8. Jessie Ware- What’s Your Pleasure?

9. Fleet Foxes – Shore

10. Songhoy Blues – Optimisme

Favourite tracks of the year (in no particular order)

Run The Jewels – JU$T (feat. Pharrell Williams & Zack de la Rocha)

Róisín Murphy – Something More – Extended Mix

Arlo Parks – Black Dog

The Weeknd – Blinding Lights

Waxahatchee – Fire

Anderson .Paak – Lockdown

Katy J Pearson – Take Back The Radio

Marlowe; L’Orange; Solemn Brigham – Future Power Sources

SAULT feat. Michael Kiwanuka – Bow

Sylvan Esso – Ferris Wheel

Posted in Music chat, New Tunes, Uncategorized

(re) Introducing Nilufer Yanya

I first banged on about Nilufer Yanya back in 2017 when she released her 2nd EP Plant Feed. Last year she released her debut album ‘Miss Universe’ which I completely failed to pick for AOTM … and I am not sure why. In the past few weeks she’s release ‘Crash’ a massive new single and it’s prompted me to reintroduce her to you all.

She’s effortlessly cool. Ballsy. Writes a great tune and obviously surrounds herself with some talented friends.

What do you think?

This is the lead track from Miss Universe …

And here is Miss Universe, enjoy.

Posted in Uncategorized

New Tracks (TINH POD Episode 5)

Listeners to the podcast version of us arguing will be familiar with the structure of each episode. The 1st section is us ‘reviewing’ an album that one of us has selected as Album of the Month. The 2nd section we all bring a single track as our chosen track to represent a theme. In the past we’ve had Lockdown Bangers, Chill Tracks, Afro-Centric and of course … Disco. On episode 5 (coming soon) we chose the simple theme of ‘new tracks’. Anything that we’ve loved from the past few months … that the others might not have heard or appreciated.

In order to select our tracks we all curated long lists that we whittled down to 4 that we could share on a longlist-playlist.

What did we miss? What do you think?