It's a pity I didn't write more details on some of my recordings. Because this one I'm a bit vague on. Although officially released as a b-side to The Verve 's career defining single 'Bitter Sweet Symphony' , I'm pretty sure this session version of 'So Sister' was performed during the promotion for their previous album 'A Northern Soul' . I'm guessing though because like I say, my scribblings on the cassette go no further than song title and performer name. Detailing dates was clearly not something I had on my mind at [...]
Looking at my LastFM statistics , it's a bit of a surprise to see R.E.M. are my fifth most listened to artists. Not because I don't like them, obviously. More that I never realised I'd listened to them quite as much as I clearly have. Most of it I think, is a result of loving 'Accelerate' as much as I did when it came out. I played that record a ridiculous amount on near constant rotation, never quite understanding why it didn't get the same amount of loving from everybody else. [...]
As far as perfect albums go, I'd say 'It's A Shame About Ray' is up there with the best of them. In my humble opinion there isn't a bad moment on it. Not that it really gives you the chance to spot them if there were. With 13 songs rushed through in just 33 minutes long, it doesn't really have time to put a foot wrong. Unless you want to argue about the inclusion of 'Mrs Robinson' at the end. Which I don't by the way. Undoubtably this is The Lemonheads masterpiece. [...]
I’ve written about bands and their legacy a few times before. So I’m not going to go for too long. But whatever happened to bands splitting up and staying split up? Do you remember when that happened? It seems a little old fashioned these days. Things seemed so much simpler back when there was a drug fuelled bust up. You knew where you stood with musical differences. But these days it’s all about the indefinite hiatus. And even when death swings his deadly scythe it’s not enough to stop a reunion. A dead guitarist is [...]
Sometimes you just want something loud and noisy to listen to. I think it's fair to say this fits that bill. It's loud. Noisy. Visceral. Intense. Unhinged. And pretty damn thrilling. Not to mention utterly incomprehensible. A description which I think pretty much sums up At The Drive In . I swear I could listen to this song for the rest of my days and not come any closer to knowing what the hell it's about. At a guess it's some weird kind of science fiction allegory for something or other. I think. Possibly. [...]
Is it too early in the year to name one of my favourite records of 2010? I think it might be. But I also think that, come December when I’m compiling that list, Frightened Rabbit ’s ‘The Winter Of Mixed Drinks’ is certain to be in there. No question. Having lived with it for just over a week now, there’s no way it won’t be. I’m pretty sure that, like it’s predecessor, it’ll be one of the records that defines the year for me. Which is reassuring if you remember [...]
'Cannonball' is just one of my favourite songs ever. It's certainly The Breeders best song by far. No question about it. There's something slightly hypnotic about the way the baseline undulates through the verses before sidestepping into that unhinged chorus. In fact, the whole thing has an odd quality to it. From it's soundcheck mess about style opening there's a peculiarness that shouldn't work. The choppy guitars that connect each section. The stop start pause that tricks you into thinking the song is over. Kim Deal's slightly bored but still ultra cool delivery. There's [...]
I’d planned to post this at the tail end of last year. But the timing seemed wrong. I didn’t want people to think it was a cynical attempt to boost my readership by jumping on the Rage bandwagon that trundled through December. Besides there was enough unnecessary and over the top white noise being generated by the race for Christmas number one that I didn’t really feel like adding to it. So now the dust has settled on the whole thing, I thought I'd post it. Suffice to say I found the whole thing rather pointless [...]
Cut me some slack here. I know this is generally seen as a Christmas song. And, having removed the decorations and chopped up the tree, I’m well aware the Christmas period officially ended on Wednesday. But these facts aren’t going to stop me posting this song. Besides, the lyrics make no mention of Christmas and the song itself is originally from a cartoon that only makes a passing reference to Christmas. So, the tenuous link I’m giving for posting this song now, is that the cartoon it comes from is about a snowman that [...]
Here's something that doesn't happen often. One of my favourite songs of the year being a bona fide hit single. Reaching the heady heights of number 13 in the UK charts, 'New In Town' was that rare of things. A proper pop song that I actually liked. I seem to remember writing about it last year but having come across this stripped back version I thought I'd run with again. There is something utterly irresistible about this song that just hooked me in the first time I heard it. I can't say the same for the [...]
Happy New Year! A few days late but no less heartfelt. I hope you all had a good one. Alas mine was pretty quiet as I was struck down by a rather severe cold and thus my last day of 2009 was spent mostly blowing my nose, sneezing, snuffling and coughing. So curled up in front of a roaring fire for warmth, we settled down to watch BBC2's annual Jools Holland Hootenanny . And as ever, it was a usual mixed bag of things worth watching, things worth skipping and cringe inducingly awful interviews. Not [...]
Well I hope you all had a lovely Christmas. I certainly did. Santa was most generous and the last week or so has mostly involved a lot of sitting around in front of the tv, filling my face with an assortment of festive food and sweets. Not to mention several hours practicing my skills on The Beatles Rock Band . So far, I'm a pretty good George and a pretty damn lousy Ringo. I think it's best we ignore my attempts at singing. Something I'm pretty sure the neighbours will have been doing these last [...]
Hope Sandoval & The Warm Inventions - 'Through The Devil Softly' The problem with Hope Sandoval , is that she always sounds like Hope Sandoval. Not that it's a major problem when she sounds as swoonsomely gorgeous as this. More acoustic with than anything she did with Mazzy Star , 'Through The Devil Softly' is a slightly folkier take on the recognisably hazy, smoky, wistful late night stoner tone of her voice and songs. Seasick Steve - 'Man From Another Time' Stripping [...]
Aidan Moffat & The Best Ofs - "How To Get To Heaven From Scotland" Following last year's album of spoken word prose, the former Arab Strap frontman returned with his first solo album of proper songs. Feeling like some kind of ramshackle late night lock in, the songs are a mix of rollicking stomp along shanties and slower musings of a man leaving behind his younger self. Where once his songs were full of deviant sex, dissected breakups and rampant negativity, this record finds Aidan Moffat sounding somewhat positive, content, romantic and, [...]
Jarvis Cocker - "Further Complications" Aside from my questionable ability to alphabetise, the inclusion here of Jarvis ' second solo album should come as little surprise. I've written about it a few times this year already and it remains one of the most thoroughly enjoyable records of 2009. The songs are harder and his lyrics are sharper than his debut and despite most songs dealing with various middle age losers, Jarvis proves he most certainly isn't one of them. The Flaming Lips - Embryonic [...]
Bat for Lashes - Two Suns One of the first standout records released this year, it seems like ages since 'Two Suns' was released. And frankly it's taken some time to fully appreciate the scope of this magnificent record in all it's glory. Richly layered with tribal drums, programmed beats, haunting pianos, choirs of voices and Natasha Khan 's own chillingly clear enunciations, 'Two Suns' is an intelligently ambitious, deliciously lush and richly rewarding record. The Dead Weather - Horehound The near annual [...]
The cull is complete. Down from 29 albums to a slightly more acceptable 17. Now all I've got to do, is sit down and write about them. As with previous years, the list will not be classed as the best albums of 2009, rather it will be my favourite albums of 2009. Note the subtle difference. I make no claims for them being the most innovative, the most ground breaking or the most awe inspiring, sonically adventurous records. They are merely the 17 records that have entertained and excited me the most over the last 12 [...]
Things have been a little quiet round here the last week or so. For which I apologise. December always proves to be a busy month and frankly, finding the time to sit down and write isn't easy at the best of times. A slew of birthdays, early Christmas parties and a trip to A&E following an unfortunate elbow in the face at football have all come along to occupy my time and take me away from this here blog. December is also the time of year for list making. And no, I'm not talking the kind [...]
I'm guessing there's isn't a single person that doesn't like this song. Or at least can't relate to it. Feel free to be the exception to the rule but it just seems to be one of those songs that strikes a chord with just about everyone. An eternally relatable song. Crossing generations, genders and genres with it's stark honesty. It's raw, bare emotion. All defences and pretences lowered. Presenting a situation I'm sure we've all experienced and it doing it so perfectly. One of those rare songs that gets everything right. Where the lyrics, the [...]
The news that U2 are to headline the Glastonbury Festival seems to have been greeted with a mixed reaction. Some disparaging, some encouraging. Personally I couldn't care less because once again, I'm not going. That said, if I was going, I wouldn't especially be bitching about U2 because Glastonbury is so big, with so many alternative stages, that the chances of me ending up infront of Bono and his massive ego are slim to none existant. I'm pretty sure that it would be nigh on impossible not to find another far more [...]
to die by your side
Mikky Ekko – Kids
And now James Franco would like you to give him some money please
Ears Wide Open: Dignitary
