Has anyone heard of The Cat Empire?

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I got some of their stuff, no idea who they are, but they sound absolutely fantastic.. a mix between reggae and rap and jazz and various other genres.. I'll try and upload some of their stuff in a minute.. But who are they?!

― Don Rowlando (Sam Rowlands), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 07:45 (twenty years ago)

NO NO NO NO NO NO PLEASE MAKE IT STOP

― mullygrubbr (bulbs), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 07:48 (twenty years ago)

Ahahaha... haha... haarr oh dear.

― Trayce (trayce), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 07:52 (twenty years ago)

(Really, I only know one song I just loved Gaz;s reaction, heh)

― Trayce (trayce), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 07:52 (twenty years ago)

heheheh

i only know one song too but it's probably one of the most annoying songs i've ever heard

― gem (trisk), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 07:52 (twenty years ago)

What is this annoying song of which you speak?

― Don Rowlando (Sam Rowlands), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 07:55 (twenty years ago)

ckchello chckchello in an annoying pseudo-latino accent

― gem (trisk), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 07:58 (twenty years ago)

although to be fair, a few of my friends saw them live a couple of times last year and apparently they put on a pretty awesome show

― gem (trisk), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 07:59 (twenty years ago)

Good lord that is a dangerously annoying song.. well i'll upload a few songs I have a little later and hopefully i'll be able to redeem the group in your eyes.. or perhaps i'll be lynched.. only time will tell!

― Don Rowlando (Sam Rowlands), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 08:00 (twenty years ago)

nah sorry, when i say i don't know any other songs i didn't mean i haven't heard any of their other songs. i've heard what was on the album that came out in 2003 and i don't really like it. i'm sure other people will be able to share your appreciation though.

― gem (trisk), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 08:03 (twenty years ago)

They are very good live but yes repeated exposure quickly sours the whole experience. Also I kind of have a petty resentment for what they represent for so many people.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 08:11 (twenty years ago)

what do you mean by 'represent for so many people' tim?

― gem (trisk), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 08:14 (twenty years ago)

i have a more than petty resentment for the clip being played repeatedly on sbfuckings as if it was an ad (whats that you say? an ad?)

― mullygrubbr (bulbs), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 08:25 (twenty years ago)

so very awful

― chris andrews (fraew), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 08:29 (twenty years ago)

"what do you mean by 'represent for so many people' tim?"

Oh, you know, LIVE MUSIC! FEEL GOOD POLYSTYLISTIC COSMOPOLITANISM! WE LIKE ALL GOOD MUSIC EVER WE'RE SO OPEN-MINDED!!

Actually my friend posted something on his blog which strikes me as an inadvertant summation of the kind of people Cat Empire make me think of:

"Just had a vision of me walking around sometime in the scary future, when my scholarship runs out and I'm desperately seeking (or crawling back to) some foul retail job, with Cher's When the Money's Gone looped in my "headtapes". It's never Bob Dylan that's playing in my head, is it?

BUT, if I was a "Josh", perhaps it would be Ben Harper on loop? Or Jack Johnson. No, this would NOT be a good thing, but it would be a "Josh" thing. You see, I aspire to be a "Josh" like person, and this is why a while ago I lauched "PROJECT JOSH". Let me describe "Josh" to you...

Josh is a Postgraduate English student. He's writing a thesis on some insanely esoteric topic, but he's one cool dude. You might find him down by the bay sitting in his VE Commodore wagon, near a surfboard (but maybe not ON one). He would be wearing a blue bonds T-Shirt, and some Thai fishermen pants. But he would look effortlessly cool.

Nothing would get Josh ruffled. He takes things as they come. If things get a bit too "heavy", he might head off to the coast for some "thinkin' time". He would do stuff like read Virginia Woolf, but he would never talk about it. He would like music that was "authentic", but would "respect" Can't Get You Out of My Head for it's genius.

Josh would write poetry and paint tortued art, but never show anyone. Josh would be highly emotional, and cry at appropriately sad moments. Josh would eat mostly vegetables, but wouldn't be afraid to have a big juicy burger now and then, 'cause you know what? Life's too short not too! Josh would use organic skin products, and go to health food stores...

WAIT A MINUTE? Is Josh a wanker?? And in actuality, when I think about it, Josh is prolly more likely to head down to the beach in a 2004 VW Golf he got for his birthday, and stay at his parent's "weekender" in Sorrento... AND am I aspiring towards some kind of rugged masculinity? 'Cause that would totally not be cool... OK, Project Josh is OVER."

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 08:41 (twenty years ago)

project josh is a good name for a band.

― mullygrubbr (bulbs), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 08:43 (twenty years ago)

i'm joshing.

― mullygrubbr (bulbs), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 08:44 (twenty years ago)

feat kate CEBerAno

― mullygrubbr (bulbs), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 08:46 (twenty years ago)

Tim, your friend is brilliant. I love project Josh. Project Josh should continue.

― moley, Tuesday, 6 September 2005 09:14 (twenty years ago)

His blog is ballingbread.blogspot.com

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 09:19 (twenty years ago)

cheers mate!

― moley, Tuesday, 6 September 2005 09:23 (twenty years ago)

they took out an injunction against some d'n'b producer who sampled the trumpet bit out of "chello chello", and triple j for playing it, because "the group doesn't support any electronic music whatsoever". ergo they are the enemy.

― haitch wolf gave me haitch (haitch), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 09:34 (twenty years ago)

'the group doesn't support any electronic music'? for reals?

― gem (trisk), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 09:52 (twenty years ago)

What a bunch of pompous fuckheads.

― Bombed Out and Depleted / Kate (papa november), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 10:05 (twenty years ago)

That is a bit of a slag, actually.

― Don Rowlando (Sam Rowlands), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 10:46 (twenty years ago)

for reals?

yes!

― haitch wolf gave me haitch (haitch), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 10:54 (twenty years ago)

to be fair they did a pretty fucking dead-on "my sharona" the one time I saw them, make of that what you will.

― haitch wolf gave me haitch (haitch), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 10:55 (twenty years ago)

Actually I am surprised that they did an accurate version of "My Sharona", you would think their tendencies would lead them to an extended jam session in which they showed of their skillful integration of hip hop, jazz, funk, reggae, and a bit of ill-defined roots music. I'm just as surprised Josh doesn't listen to the John Butler Trio.

― Jedmond (Jedmond), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 16:11 (twenty years ago)

I think my friend Guy has probably successfuly insulated himself from awareness of the existence of John Butler Trio! But yes Josh would listen to them.

Actually another good friend of mine is going out with a Josh who fits quite a few of Project Josh's characteristics but otherwise totally likes microhouse and chart hip hop!

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Wednesday, 7 September 2005 00:08 (twenty years ago)

http://www.xpressmag.com.au/archives/920int_cat.jpg

Keepin' it real

― wombatX (wombatX), Wednesday, 7 September 2005 00:15 (twenty years ago)

haha i used to have that avalanche athletic tshirt in red :/

― minna (minna), Wednesday, 7 September 2005 00:17 (twenty years ago)

They do not support the Avalanches or their funny electrickery soundz

― wombatX (wombatX), Wednesday, 7 September 2005 00:23 (twenty years ago)

understandable. that's not music! not real music anyway. you can't make real music with any of that funny electrickery stuff.

― gem (trisk), Wednesday, 7 September 2005 00:25 (twenty years ago)

They carve their own microphones from walnut roots and soapstone.

― jcartledge (jcartledge), Wednesday, 7 September 2005 00:56 (twenty years ago)

soapstone has more natural highs and less exaggerated mids

― jimmy glass (electricsound), Wednesday, 7 September 2005 00:57 (twenty years ago)

I was mustering a backhanded, halfhearted (or should that be backhearted and halfhanded) defense of them. Really, of all the worthy, earnest, folksy new Australian acts to hit the mainstream in the past 15 years, they're certainly the least dull and most danceable.

I was introduced to 'Hallo Hallo' by my five-year-old singing along to it, which I naturally found adorable. But I can see how it would have driven me up the wall in other circumstances.

― scriblerus (mike lynch), Wednesday, 7 September 2005 04:38 (twenty years ago)

But that stuff about electronic music is unforgivable.

― scriblerus (mike lynch), Wednesday, 7 September 2005 04:48 (twenty years ago)

yeah to be fair they're a lot better than john fucking butler fucking trio - and as I said before they are very good live - or at least were 3 years ago.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Wednesday, 7 September 2005 04:48 (twenty years ago)

I was wondering why I was met with silence when I mentioned I thought they were alright on a mongrels thread! I've only heard a couple of songs but I thought they were pretty good. I even asked a someone who was this when one of their tunes came on the radio. I can see how they might bug some people, they're very 90's in that overly eclectic way, they probably surf and are prone to the odd wacky hawaiian shirt right and what Haitch said upthread is rotten too. Still, I'd sooner listen to 'em than, i dunno, The Panics?

― Michael B, Wednesday, 7 September 2005 05:29 (twenty years ago)

There's a definite subgenre of music that I find insufferable on record but quite like in a live setting, and the odd Cat Empire song might fit this. "Hallo Hallo" is pretty infectious - the trumpet bit, but I've heard other stuff that's been awful.

Then again, I once voluntarily went to an Area 7 gig and enjoyed myself, so please ignore me.

― edward o (edwardo), Wednesday, 7 September 2005 05:33 (twenty years ago)

My friend who I must admit has some Joshist tendencies played me a bunch of their music in attempt to sway me toward them, but I just found it to be inoffensive blah.

Plus they're aussies so points off there. Nz has enough average funk/reggae groups as it is without outsourcing that kind of thing.

― Bn1 (Bn1), Wednesday, 7 September 2005 05:37 (twenty years ago)

awww i love the panics.

― gem (trisk), Wednesday, 7 September 2005 08:29 (twenty years ago)

although i haven't heard their new album yet.

― gem (trisk), Wednesday, 7 September 2005 08:29 (twenty years ago)

ts: cat empire vs ah um oh you know that wild and wacky mc troup that rap in macedonian and stuff. fuck what are they called.

― mullygrubbr (bulbs), Wednesday, 7 September 2005 08:52 (twenty years ago)

i think i'd be likely to take the unnamed wild and wacky troupe after that wanky 'we don't support electronic music' thing from cat empire

― gem (trisk), Wednesday, 7 September 2005 08:55 (twenty years ago)

as soon as they record they use electronica - everything is elctric.
nothing is organic.

― cate keberano, Wednesday, 7 September 2005 08:56 (twenty years ago)

Fuck this band.

What's wrong with you people?

― Sasha (sgh), Thursday, 8 September 2005 03:31 (twenty years ago)

yeah to be fair they're a lot better than john fucking butler fucking trio

ha tim EVERYTHING is better than the john butler trio!

― haitch wolf gave me haitch (haitch), Thursday, 8 September 2005 03:48 (twenty years ago)

The John Butler Trio is the worst band on the planet. No question.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 8 September 2005 03:51 (twenty years ago)

in the universe

― gem (trisk), Thursday, 8 September 2005 03:52 (twenty years ago)

I remember reading a particularly poisonous critic saying Australians should start buying REAL music like JBT as it is REAL and GENUINE and UNPOPULAR instead of stuff by Australian idol contestants, i.e. Shannon Noll. Except, oops, I think JBT's last album outsold Shannon's...

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 8 September 2005 03:54 (twenty years ago)

unpopular? was this critic someone foreign to australia? is it REAL and GENUINE because jb is STINKY thus making him very EARTHY?

― gem (trisk), Thursday, 8 September 2005 03:56 (twenty years ago)

john butler grows his own vegetables.. on his body!!!

― jimmy glass (electricsound), Thursday, 8 September 2005 04:10 (twenty years ago)

Nothing makes me run faster than "a unique blend of jazz, rock, funk, and reggae, etc."

― Hurting (Hurting), Thursday, 8 September 2005 05:42 (twenty years ago)

JOHN BUTLER IS AMERICAN

gaz you are thinking of Curse Ov Dialect

― kit brash (kit brash), Thursday, 8 September 2005 11:21 (twenty years ago)

Project Josh MUST not die.

― moley, Thursday, 8 September 2005 11:29 (twenty years ago)

The one person I know who loves The Cat Empire is Project Josh to the life

― jim (jim5et), Thursday, 8 September 2005 12:20 (twenty years ago)

yo i recon the cat empire r da bomb. best music sik tallent and those who say utherwize are not sain.
those who havent herd there music shud go 2 there website.
or download it (legaly) or better yet buy the CD.
u wont be disapointed. i garentee it. New age reggae.
a six piece band from australia.
i may be young but i know gud tallent.
and u lot who r baging them out r a bunch of unsucsessful losers
Get a life heheh
cya fellaz

― simon thekoolkid, Wednesday, 14 September 2005 05:11 (twenty years ago)

whoevers baging out john butlers a faggot hes hell gud.
beter than u will ever be u bunch of internet losers get a life
thats all i realy had to say.
hes a talented guitarist.
and ur computer programing abilities r quite insuperior to his skill.
and ur all losers that dont apreciate gud music.
exept the peopel that like cat empire and john butler.
i rest my case!
in ur face!
hows that for a rhyme u gimps!

― simon thekoolkid, Wednesday, 14 September 2005 05:16 (twenty years ago)

fuck up sook

― jimmy glass (electricsound), Wednesday, 14 September 2005 05:17 (twenty years ago)

i dunno, i reckon he gave the game away by spelling rhyme correctly

― gem (trisk), Wednesday, 14 September 2005 05:29 (twenty years ago)

fuck up sook

wow a monoer walks among us

― CMB, Wednesday, 14 September 2005 06:54 (twenty years ago)

haha

― jimmy glass (electricsound), Wednesday, 14 September 2005 07:45 (twenty years ago)

jimmy eats shit!!! fuking faggot!

― simon thekoolkid, Thursday, 15 September 2005 07:36 (twenty years ago)

i am a faggot i knwo i eat shit and love it
hey simon do u want me 2 suk ur cock??
coz im gay yaknow...... and prowd of it...
i love it in the ass

― jimy glass, Thursday, 15 September 2005 07:38 (twenty years ago)

That's no insult. EVERYONE on ILM likes it in the ass, apparently.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 15 September 2005 07:48 (twenty years ago)

i hate everyone on this site ur all gimps??
u hav anyting to say for urselves aye??

how many of u gt a life when i told u to????

how many of u are alon and probebly will be for the rest of ur short pointless lives.. anyways i gotta do sum work. for those normal poeple here this is not aimed at u... just the losers that bag out gud tallent and jimmy.
jimmy no im not giving it 2 u in the arse ok!!
get ova it u loser.
get a life.
get a girlfriend
but u prob hav nuthing better to do that pik on an awsum tallent..
oh yeh... if anyone wants to call jimmy names please do..
coz hes definetly a gimp!!!!
im off now.. bye bye
oh and jimmys a faggot who loves it in the ass..
(not from me) but i bet hed love that!
faggot!!

― simonthekoolkid, Tuesday, 20 September 2005 04:56 (twenty years ago)

These lyrics are screaming out for a cheeky latino trumpet riff and a tasty non-electronic beat.

― wombatX (wombatX), Tuesday, 20 September 2005 05:20 (twenty years ago)

eight years pass...

These aren't a group I'd listen to at home at all (I guessed ILX would be rather down on them before I searched this thread), but a bunch of mates are going to see them in Brixton soon and I imagine they might be quite a laugh live. Anyone seen em?

― I wish to incorporate disco into my small business (chap), Monday, 30 September 2013 15:13 (twelve years ago)

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