2 posts tagged “itunes”

PartysOvercopy

When historians come to write the history of the current Global Downturn, they will probably focus not on the sudden, unexpected implosion of our credit-fuelled consumer economies, or the demise of Thatcherite neo-liberal dogmas, but on the fact that a little-known Oxford artist who looked a bit like Louis Theroux made a song about it which sounded a bit like John Lennon.

Worldview's "Party's Over". This song is clever, right, cos it has nice "Imagine"-style piano chords, crashing drums and builds to a soaring, dare I say it, Coldplay-like anthemic chorus, and lyrically could be alluding to either the Credit Crunch, the end of an affair, or an actual party/knees-up. This means it will appeal to the common plebs and fans of chick-lit as well as Guardian readers, making a very wide demographic (ker-ching!!).

But don't take my word for it ; "Party's Over" has just spent a fortnight at Number One in the Somojo.net Radio Pop Muzik Chart (which means that dozens of insomniacs and hospitalised listeners like it). And this is what the main players in the Credit Crunch have said about Oliver's latest Worldview slice of pop commentary:

"On hearing Oliver Shaw's elegaic ballad "Party's Over" while dressing for PMQs I was suddenly made aware of my own deluded hubris in thinking I had brought an end to boom and bust in the economy, and shaken into finally accepting my share of the blame for the de-regulation of our financial instituitions and for maintaining our dependence on the services sector while overlooking our once-great manufacturing base. I particulary like the graceful slide guitar work before the last chorus". - The Rt. Hon. Gordon Brown, MP (and PM at time of writing).

"Shaw has really nailed it with this tune. I feel like a right twat for letting the Royal Bank Of Scotland go to the wall and will now pay back my sick and outrageous retirement pay-off. It does go on a bit though: I hope he's done a shorter Radio Edit". - Fred Goodwin, former chief executive of the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS).

"Party's Over" is has been rushed out in an Instant Karma style while it's still current and potentially lucrative, and is now available at the following digital download outlets:

iTunes (UK and other stores worldwide):
http://www.apple.com/uk/search/ipoditunes/?q=worldview+party%27s+over

Amazon MP3 (UK and US): http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_dmusic?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-music&field-keywords=worldview+party%27s+over

Also at Napster, eMusic, Rhapsody and various obscure ones I've never heard of.

So why not track it down at any of the above and strike a blow for the endangered species of intelligent pop music, and for Oliver's self-image.

Hear the track on Youtube below:

Our Condition cover

Yes, owing to the wonders of the Information Superhighway and non porn-related credit card transactions, you can now purchase Worldview's "Our Condition" album online at the thing they call the I-Tunes store! It's a snip at £7.99, none of which goes to charity, or 79p per track, if you want to buy them all separately, ho ho. The download version differs from promo CDs of the album which have been circulating, as it substitutes the "Average Ben" mix of "Tourist" which is fast becoming the definitive version, featuring Ben P's catchy guitar hook as heard in Worldview's live set. Speaking of which, you can watch them perform it live here:

You can buy this eclectic collection of pop philosophy using the I-Tunes link in the main band info section of Worldview's Myspace profile, or if that doesn't work, follow this link instead: http://www.apple.com/uk/search/ipoditunes/?q=worldview+our+condition

And given that this digital day-and-age does not permit sleevenotes at point of sale, here is a short summary of each track:

1. ONE RULE FOR YOU: Epic opener with shades of The Beatles, Elliott Smith, and, some have said, The Lightning Seeds. Or perhaps Oasis with a laptop and more words. Oliver Shaw ruminates on mortality, death and our necessary delusions, setting out some of the album's key themes.

2. JAM TODAY: Oliver comes on like a better looking Kylie Minogue in this toe-tapping, handbag swinging disco paean to instant gratification.

3. HIGH HOPES: Sleazy lo-fi Britrock number about how consumerist totems of sex'n'success hopelessly inflate our standards and expectations. Except for Oliver himself, who will marry a supermodel.

4. DESIGNED FOR LIFE: Oliver owns up to his many failings on this downtempo trip-hoppy number, going on about how hard it is to be alive for us sensitive types and how that's a good excuse for being a work-shy artist type. Note the alarmingly George Michael-like hushed vocal croon.

5. SO FEARLESS: A simple tale of unrequited lust, stalking, and fear of sexual inadequacy. The subject of this Prince/Clash-inspired pop nugget has since contacted the police.

6. PAYBACK: Richard Hawley-influenced retro ballad about the law of Karma, or as Indian restauranteers call it, Korma.

7. ENTITLEMENT: One of Oliver's occasional sociological missives in which he castigates the lower orders for buying into vacuous consumerist hopes'n'dreams. Sounds like The Beatles with IT certificates.

8. TOURIST: New Order go on holiday somewhere and soon wish they hadn't. A would-be Ibiza anthem about a voyeuristic, moor-less tourist of people, places or situations.

9. BUY INTO IT: Oliver castigates himself for buying into vacuous consumerist hopes'n'dreams. Sounds a bit like The Rolling Stones.

10. WHAT'S YOUR POISON?: Oliver comes on like a cut-price Bono fronting an electro U2 as he preaches about Substance Abuse, and how necessary it is.

11. NO TAKERS: Sounds like Elvis Costello meets Goldfrapp, or a glamrock Depeche Mode. It's the bitter ravings of an overlooked genius, and therefore not autobiographical.

12. OUR CONDITION: Oliver puts the c*nt in country & western in this twangy, uptempo musing on the human, er, condition. Thus nicely distilling the album's themes, innit? Notable for the first outing of the banjo in Worldview's oeuvre.

So there you have it. Now run along and buy it...