The kind folk at Bearded have reviewed my first release proper ’Super. Army. Soldiers’

Here’s what they had to say about it.

"the experimental side of things gives it a new edge, like Banks suddenly did a Captain Beefheart and locked his musicians and their instruments in a shed with only acid for nourishment. I make this judgement based on ’The Dirty 50’, a spoken word passage about having an unfeasibly large head, backed by a freeform banjo and tambourine statically rubbed against some glockenspiel atonality, making it actually quite reminiscent of Mr. ’Trout Mask Replica’ himself, which is always good."

Read the full review here: http://beardedmagazine.co.uk/wp/?p=150

In other news, work on SASIII has begun, and we’re working on getting a release of SASII.

http://www.last.fm/music/Joshua+Banks

Therein you'll find links to download (for free) the first part to the opus 'Joshua Banks... Super.Army.Soldier'. 11 tracks of JB goodness, sans Fashanu's smile.

Also you may have noticed a few bits from S.A.S II on here as well - 'We Can Kill Anyone', 'The Green in Your Tree' and 'Fashanu's Smile'.

J.Banks
xx

The first part of the opus 'Joshua Banks... Super.Army.Soldier' is due to be released through the lovely people at Fleeing from Pigeons. It is likely to be given away free online (if it's good enough for Radiohead...) with very limited copies in print available. The first part is called 'Super.Army.Soldiers' and you can listen to and download some tracks from the Myspace page.

The opus will be made up of ten parts and comprises a lot of my songs I have written on my travels over the years - plus a few covers. I have tended to experiment with different substances during writing and recording and the results are wildly varied. I was stoned a lot during the 'Super.Army.Soldiers' sessions and you can tell through the hazy, lazy sound of some of the tracks - especially 'Letter to that Guy' and 'That's Not Animal Related'. I also put together a 5 track, 30-minute companion 'Super.Army.Soldiers b' whilst drinking heavily. The results are not as flattering (hence why it's not 'Super.Army.Soldiers II') and I'm not sure I want too many people listening.

Unfortunately my health has been failing over the past year, I hope to complete the ten parts before I pass but as a precaution I have roped in my nephews Alfresco and Gazemous into the recording to help bring some life to an old man's vision. They have done a lot of the lyrics because my laryngitis doesn't give me much of a singing (or speaking) voice. Hopefully the ten parts will be completed, if not, I'm sure my nephews will be able to complete my work.

Bye for now, not for the last time.

J.Banks

Well, I have managed to work out last.fm and now I have a load of tracks available to download.

The entire 'From the Vaults of Chateau de Banks' demo recordings are up there, including hits 'Man Hands' and 'Mixin Louis Beaussinot'

Find my page here: http://www.last.fm/music/Joshua+Banks

Phanx!

J.Banks
xx

Apparently somebody said I was dead on my wikipedia page - that officially puts us in the same league as Roy Walker and that twat from Nirvana and Foo Fighters.

Well I am not dead. You may have noticed my new songs creeping on and off the myspace page - just teasing you before I release one of my EPs or, god forbid, a long player.

You never know, I might even play live again soon. Many exciting times I'll say that much. We'll be there someday, who knows when though.

Much love,
J.Banks
xxx

I understand that there is a bootleg of my album sessions doing the online rounds.

It contains mostly tracks that have been up here at some point, but it also includes some outtakes and alternative versions of songs that were on the 'Whos Joshua Banks EP.

This isn't the album but Im sure, as most of you cant wait for the record, you'll find it invigorating till the real magic is unleashed sometime soon.

Tracklisting is:

01. Mixin' Loui Beaussinot
02. This is Who I am
03. Joshua Banks (alt. version)
04. 30-Second Ballad
05. Man Hands
06. My Baby Got Knocked Down by a Japanese Takeaway Driver (alt. version)
07. Andy is Rolling a Spliff
08. Self Obsessed
09. Cunt
10. Joshua Banks Pt.II

For all those interested in it that can't find it, send me a message and I can sort you out!

Ha haa!  Look here and look half way down the page!

Is now recorded and uploaded for you all to endure! Included is the cover of Who's Got the Crack, complete with Kazoo solo...

oh gawd!

Track Listing is:

1. Joshua Banks
2. This Could be the End
3. My Baby Got Knocked Down by a Japanese Takeaway Driver
4. The Man Don't Give a Fuck That He's Got no Face
5. Who's Got the Crack?
6. Phanx

The fruits of Bank's first recording session are now available to download.  All recorded in one take, the sessions also spawned new track 'Phanx'