Dave Lartigue did this a while back and I thought it was a good idea, so I’m stealing it.
I am always looking for new music to add to my iPod playlist, so: recommend five songs to me. Any genre. Whatever you feel like recommending. (WARNING: I am not historically a fan of any metal that can be described as [BLANK]core, and most new-country leaves me cold.) I will listen to them, and then in a subsequent post I will say what I thought of every song that was recommended to me. (Even the metal and new-country.)
Bonus points if you include links to Youtube or Soundcloud or whatever so I can listen to it right away without having to search for it.
EDIT TO ADD: Just as an FYI, my comment moderation software auto-sorts any comment with multiple links into the “pending approval” folder because of spambots, but rest assured I am checking both the pending folder and the spam folder regularly; your comment is not going to disappear into the ether.
SECOND EDIT: Locking comments because jeeeeeeeez that’s a lotta songs
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Oh, man! I am nothing if not a font of unsolicited song recommendations, so you’d better believe I’m going to jump on an actual solicitation for recommendations like nobody’s business. I am not proud of that sentence.
Le Jig Francais by BeauSoleil:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdoQBOruOzs
Big Chief Pt. 1 by Professor Longhair: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QKon_BHaAg
Tropicália by Caetano Veloso: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oQoF_YsUOw
Now by Nomeansno: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POBr8CDGp_Q
The Radicalisation of D by Gareth Liddiard: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgaVz44KQ5U
(Yes, I know it’s sixteen minutes long and only has like three chords; I don’t care. It’s all about the lyrics, man!! *Smokes a joint; contemplates the understated beauty of a single sycamore leaf; eats some nachos*)
Harder than I expected. Once a list starts, it just wants to keep going. I hope you enjoy at least a couple of these.
1. “Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky” (Soul) by Claudia Lennear.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjQUblWNy6E
2. “If You Need Me” (Soul) by Wilson Pickett.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnK4k_EnXSo
3. “Glad I Knew Better” (Soul) by Howard Tate.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94IO4ZK5HeY
4. “The Glutton of Sympathy” (Power Pop) by Jellyfish.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-8Flo4Udmk
5. “Orleans” (A capella hippie jazz?) by David Crosby.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1jo1gI0kJI
Ecstasy of Gold https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOr0na6mKJQ
The Afterlife https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0G-BP3qwZ-I
Dinosaur Ghosts https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jorXxiA6nZk
Marrakesh Night Market https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=js-cKpZydfE
Don’t Beat Me Down https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewvOlJaFsbY
You may have heard of some of these.
1. Arctic Monkeys – When The Sun Goes Down: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUatH8zI6Qc
2. Billy Bragg – From Red To Blue: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xC9nSkZ1ZI
3. Dick Gaughan – No Gods And Precious Few Heroes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pB9fb3lIXko
4. Nickel – Stupid Thing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HO21CZQqiuQ
(This is the first time I’ve seen the video for this song. Very… of it’s time, let us say).
5. Stiff Little Fingers – Last Train From The Wasteland: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bISPDCxPjJw [Song starts at 0:48]
Timebomb – Old 97s – http://YouTu.be/is83WB7Ue1Y
They are from Texas and may have a bit of country in their blood, but they are far removed from anything like today’s pop country.
Me & Mia – Ted Leo – http://youtu.be/zRD4CoiDzuQ
Vegan activist punkish, but don’t hold that against him
Take the mirror – White Lung – http://youtu.be/8PoQhaNiXvg
Canadian girl punk in fine 1-minute-ish song tradition
Tony Adams – Joe Strummer – http://youtu.be/arhfQLJNZE8
Big risk, recommending the guy from the Clash. Have you also heard of this young upstart Elvis Costello?
Starships – Nicki Minaj – http://youtu.be/bTGdGKEEiYE
A passion pick that I can’t necessarily defend, and the video linked is a fan edit of different spaceship scenes from sci-fi, but still fuck all y’all it’s one of the best songs ever written by a human being (or at least a close facsimile thereof)
Hopefully all these links work since I had to manually type this on my phone since my work still blocks your site for “Adult content”.
To be fair: I like all of those songs (and would generally recommend the albums they come off of) but mostly I just want to hear your opinions. 😉
Under Pressure All the Time
Kinda I Want 2A03
Local Boy
Como Tu No Hay 2
Scent of a Robot
Well, just for you 😉
1. This always says to me “The Jam if Paul Weller had been born 25 years later”. Righteous anger (and amazingly well observed character building – “he’s got a driving ban/amongst some other offences”) tied to some fantastic, kinda minimalist music.
2. William Bloke, Bragg’s 5th album, is not his best work overall, but it does feature 2 of my all time favourite tracks of his – this one, and “Upfield”. I put “From Red To Blue” on this list though, partially because I agree with the politics, but more because it is my favourite use of Bragg’s voice. What he lacks in technical skill is more than made up for here in sincerity and passion.
3. As this songs rolls back towards topicality (the Scottish referendum on independence is on September 14th this year), it’s always good to listen to someone who has a fair amount of clarity on what it would actually involve. (The irony here is that Gaughan didn’t write this song, but honestly, Brian McNeill’s original loses a lot in the novelty record-esque music attached to these wise words).
4. This one is pretty straightforward. The band played it in the Bronze on an episode of “Buffy”, and the way the drummer held his sticks made me laugh. But I do think it’s a superior example of mid-90s rock.
5. I first got into SLF at high school, where a teacher was a huge fan and lent me the Hope Street/All The Best CD set, and this is the song that I hold up as the perfect example of their work. The punk intensity, the personal involvement with the subject and the reggae influences all come together to produce a song that is at once hopeful, and worried, inspiring and somewhat downbeat. Jake Burns clearly wanted to write a “Everything’s wonderful now” party song, but that wasn’t the reality of the situation, and so we get a much more nuanced track, and it’s all the better for it.
Titus Jones – “Don’t Stop Believin’ in this Love on Earth”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfoRNcZ9sJM
Regina Spektor – “Fidelity”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wigqKfLWjvM
Sara Bareilles – “Love Song”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qi7Yh16dA0w
DJ Earworm – “No One Takes Your Freedom”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7U5jpHWzeE
Corky and the Juice Pigs – Gay Eskimo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwO33oUawM8
Big & Rich (ft. Gretchen Wilson) – “Fake ID”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZA_yZ75kkQ
Pistol Annies – “Hell On Heels”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOKtbJfNLFk
Milli Mars – “The Alarm”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ME6QSbhL-OM
P.O.S. – “Fuck Your Stuff”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FY6VcJR2PE
Jeffrey Lewis – “Williamsburg Will Oldham Horror”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSdZ_yZP8bk
I can’t resist the chance to mention several of my favorite obscure performers.
Mustard’s Retreat: The Wreck of the Julie Plante
A lively folk setting of a 19th-century poem that pre-emptively turns the whole “Edmund Fitzgerald” thing inside out.
Pandora
YouTube (part of a 9-minute live set)
Vixy & Tony: Strange Messenger
Original folk-rock ballad this time, but based on the true story of Humboldt’s parrot.
YouTube
artists’ Web site
Tom Smith: Superman Sex Life Boogie
An oldie but goodie from the World’s Fastest (and most versatile) Filker. (I was torn between linking to this one, which emphasizes Tom’s comic genius, or to “A Boy and His Frog”, which is a tribute to Jim Henson and makes me tear up every time I listen.)
artist’s Web site (free MP3)
Seanan McGuire Pretty Little Dead Girl
Country-rock meets urban legend; snark wins. (The Grooveshark version is from the out-of-print live album, but the song’s still available on the reissue of Stars Fall Home.) Note that McGuire is a multi-talent threat, being a Hugo-nominated novelist as well as a singer.
Grooveshark
artist’s Web site/album page
The Scarlet Pimpernel: The Riddle
Now for something completely different: a number from the (IMO) severely underrated Broadway musical of The Scarlet Pimpernel. (I had trouble picking here, too; the title song is highly amusing, and then there’s “Madam Guillotine”, and — oh, just go find the cast album….)
YouTube
Radio Citizen–The Hop
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeqqrrSHfDM
Goldspot–Rewind
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCVbMkSAnR4
Graham Reynolds–Little Blue Flowers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmmrfYTuVWw
(If you’ve seen A Scanner Darkly, and I would be shocked and dismayed if you haven’t, you’ll know this one. It’s my favorite piece of music scoring ever.)
Bad Books–Pyotr
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QiT40Ce04Bo
Dr. Dog–Shadow People
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_4_By9NJOc
Let’s do this!
1: Babymetal: Iine! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVdBBOpSoN4 (kawaii metal, basically death metal combined with j-pop sung by 13 year old girls)
2: X Japan: Art of Life http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eqmkgSeYjI (for my money, this is the greatest song ever)
3: Kina Grannis: In Your Arms http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOu0DuxFAT0 (mostly it’s an amazing music video, but the song is pretty good too)
4: Florence and the Machine: Breath Of Life http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d58VJ-sC1uY (it’s honestly a shame this song didn’t catch on)
5: Van Canto: Battery http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEwNrjvNiYs (Metallica covered a capella)
Dock Boggs “Pretty Polly”
http://youtu.be/CfyrRNP1ZpU
Ola Belle Reed — “Bonaparte’s Retreat”
http://youtu.be/lOn6a9frjEI
Blue Clocks Green — “Hemmingway”
http://youtu.be/g7YCjzxz2DA
Close Lobsters — “Foxheads”
http://youtu.be/oriH-4lM1S0
Charles Mingus — “Moanin'”
http://youtu.be/__OSyznVDOY
The last one is really just a bonus palette cleansing bit of classic jazz, because by this point you probably need it.
Goldie Lookin Chain: Guns Don’t Kill People, Rappers Do
http://youtu.be/VT2YYLkIFZ4
Tim Minchin: When I Grow Up (from the Matilda Musical)
http://youtu.be/MlEjtcjwraM
Grimes: Oblivion
http://youtu.be/JtH68PJIQLE
Mississippi John Hurt: The Ballad Of Stagger Lee*
http://youtu.be/4scedJs6hC8
Deltron 3030(feat Jamie Cullum): Do You Remember*
http://youtu.be/NDhWm16z-_A
*The last two aren’t videos, just audio w/pictures.
Dredg – “The Canyon Behind Her”
Godspeed You Black Emperor! – “The Dead Flag Blues”
Flobots – “Handlebars”
Local H – “The one with ‘Kid'”
Fucking Werewolf Asso – “Yasuko Onuki”
Robbie Fulks: “Countrier Than Thou”, because there are some problems with new country
Dan Bern: “Lightning Jazz”
Richard Buckner: literally anything from The Hill, because what could be better than songifying Edgar Lee Masters’ Spoon River Anthology?
The Toy Dolls: “Nelly The Elephant”
Lou Barlow: “Legendary”
All right. Let me give you a challenge. The genre of this playlist is “Ponies”. Don’t let that scare you, the talent in that fandom is impressive. I’ll give a musical mix so that you’ll hopefully enjoy at least one.
“Good Girl” — House / Pop. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1pjmN3RF3c
“Pinkie’s Brew” — Musical theater. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=682pneYoP0c
“Awoken” — Grunge/Metal, but not too harsh. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytKvgLuy7ng
“20% Cooler” — Hip hop, with some embarrassing lyrics. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RTlB8Hmcw0
“Proud to be a Brony” — Progressive Rock, I guess. Hard to categorize. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxD0dO9iR0M
Those are five good pony songs that cover a bunch of genres. I could give you the five best songs in any genre you’d like; there is that much fan-created music out there.
My Drive Thru by Santogold and Julian Casablancas http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPZ5fnYFI4Q
Bonkers by Dizzee Rascal http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ci40ae8BlcE
Five Minutes by Tinie Tempah http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoPXpKU_1nw
Mic Check by Hadouken! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnYeQx5-0t8
Listen Up (MSTRKRFT Remix) by The Gossip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZR–XDx26Vw
1. Electric Six – Devil Nights
2. Ill Bill ft. Immortal Technique & Max Cavalera – War is my Destiny
3. Maria McKee – Wayfaring Stranger
4. The Submarines – 1940
5. Beats Antique – Extra Extra
“Sunshine” by Little Dragon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QS10B4k_9g
“Pibroch (Cap in Hand)” by Jethro Tull
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUBBkbShng8
“Black Sheep” by Metric
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obV-OL3TwXo
“By and Down” by A Perfect Circle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvISM-n9700
“Royals” by Postmodern Jukebox (feat. Puddles Pity Party)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBmCJEehYtU
Webb Wilder: “The Human Cannonball”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHkDRA0AtX4
Frank Sinatra: “One For My Baby”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJpJoYYGzjM
Puddles Pity Party (Lorde cover): “Royals”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBmCJEehYtU
Pavarotti: “Nessun Dorma”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdTBml4oOZ8
Better Off Dead: “All I Got For Christmas Was Drunk”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKeTpFYsdaU
Your “I don’t like metal” bit awoken the “challenge accepted” part of my brain. So here’s some of my favorite songs from 2013
The Lion’s Daughter & Indian Blanket – Wolves
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jTW1VsqiNV4&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DjTW1VsqiNV4
A collaboration between a metal band and folk group from Missouri. Works surprisingly well.
Corsair – Path of the Chosen Arrow
http://corsair.bandcamp.com/track/path-of-the-chosen-arrow
Magic Circle – The Greatest Escape / White Shores
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WhxgTjzCtcY&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DWhxgTjzCtcY
Caladan Brood – A Voice Born of Stone and Dust
http://caladanbrood.bandcamp.com/track/a-voice-born-of-stone-and-dust
Giant fucking nerds made an album about the Malazan books.
Sacriphyx – Buried Behind the Lines
http://nuclearwarnowproductions.bandcamp.com/track/buried-behind-the-lines-2
http://youtu.be/b6vSf0cA9qY
Jubel, by Klingande. Currently one of the biggest jams in Germany, but the lyrics (what there is of them) are in English. And oh, the saxophone.
Sorry, only one reccomendation. I’m a rebel. A tired rebel.
As It Comes – The Exploding Voids
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qx-bPEPjR-M
(I really want this song to be famous- profound statement on detachment and aging)
First Day of My Life – Bright Eyes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fVoN1bXOsU
(Most romantic song ever)
Buildings and Bridges – Ani Difranco
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9elTQix5oQ
(also profound)
Mystery Dance – Elvis Costello
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kD8Rm0M3PCg
(There’s a different, more rocking version but this one has an added verse)
Satellite – Lena Meyer-Landrut
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esTVVjpTzIY
(Best Eurovision)
The Julie Ruin: Ha Ha Ha
http://youtu.be/S8D_nAuDbTA
Streetlight Manifesto: The Hands That Thieve
http://youtu.be/7mIV6ADAnnk
Neko Case: Man
http://youtu.be/unNa-9qGkfI
Marnie Stern: The Chronicles of Marnia
http://killrockstars.bandcamp.com/track/the-chronicles-of-marnia
Leda: Something to Believe In
https://leda.bandcamp.com/track/something-to-believe-in
Stuck with 2013
I’ll play. My favorite tracks I heard in 2013 were:
“The Mother We Share” CHVRCHES https://soundcloud.com/chvrches/the-mother-we-share
“Poison and Wine” The Civil Wars
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfzRlcnq_c0
“Now I’m All Messed Up” Tegan and Sara
https://soundcloud.com/teganandsara/tegan-and-sara-now-im-all
“State of Grace” Taylor Swift
https://soundcloud.com/taylorswiftofficial/state-of-grace-1
“Graceless” the National
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jpz_gUyImhw
Oh Land – Renaissance Girls
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFCYo3XocIM
Marques Toliver – White Sails
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzBM34cEyUU
Unseen X Delight – SuperVillain
https://soundcloud.com/unseen-ny/unseen-x-delight-supervillain
Stony – White Whine (First World Problems)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tetcgv0tNh8
Plaitwrights – Take
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOQlw9dW4DE
眼镜蛇 – 1966
Queen Sea Big Shark – Lightning Metropolis
Tizzy Bac – 鐵之貝克
蘇打綠 – 已经
二手玫瑰 － 官封弼马瘟—苏阳
Can we submit 80s songs?
Gurrdammit. It’s bedtime, and I’ve an AGM tomorrow. I’ll come back and make a list sometime on the weekend.
But that’s cool, it’ll give me time to mull it over during all tomorrow’s tediousness.
Meaner Than You – United Steelworkers of Montreal
Generation Handclap – Library Voices
B.C. Orienteering – Said The Whale
Petipetan – De Temps Antan (and no, I can’t translate)
The Game of All Fours – Kate Rusby
“Awaken” Savatage
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjYChohSd9Y
“Shell Games” Bright Eyes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6MnpD5_4GI
“Hold On” Tom Waits
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPnOEiehONQ
“Pandemonium” Killing Joke
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvIRrbIqrKk
“Last Hope” Apocalyptica
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JtZZfvz24Q
1) Laura Marling – Sophia: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-TMl5oCRjk (I had to seriously resist the temptation to just post 5 Laura Marling songs)
2) Drag The River – Hang Dog: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOK_pvJbihI
3) Saint Etienne – He’s On The Phone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCz9x1-PhXU
4) Sun Kil Moon – Gentle Moon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LjPnW7L8nE
5) Replacements – I Will Dare: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJcCzWcgPsY
Zyzzyva — Oh my gosh, The Dinosaurs! My parents had one part of that documentary on tape, and I was obsessed with it as a kid! I’ll never forget that music.
Picking just five is hard, but —
Sburban Jungle – percussion ensemble
Metropolis – Im Laboratorium
Flight of the Conchords — Issues (Think About It)
I find these guys hilarious.
Michael Jackson Medley
And to bring in something comics-related: as you may or may not be aware, Finnish metal artist Tuomas Holopainen is creating a concept album based on The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck (yes, really — those crazy Finns!) and the first song has just appeared online. Whaddaya think?
Just five? Oh all right.
Camper Van Beethoven: “The Humid Press of Days”
Jamie T: “If You Got the Money”
Emilie Simon: “Never Fall in Love”
Sarah Slean: “Society Song”
Thrice: “Kings Upon the Main”
Luigi’s Ballad by Star Bomb:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jfU7pw76ZE
Dinosaur Laser Fight by Ninja Sex Party:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcmBALxDkRY
An Awful Lot of Running by Chameleon Circuit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAi4izfvXo4
Zelda Medley by Lindsey Stirling:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3KUyPKbR7Q
Nothing to Prove by the Doubleclicks:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4Rjy5yW1gQ
I can’t get 5 songs since I’m not the most musical person, but here are three.
Warren Zevon: Keep Me In Your Heart
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTIfLTbKhhM
Steam Powered Giraffe: Automatonic Electronic Harmonic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQWY-JOhF2I
It’s got an unnecessary and flabby middle section, but the beginning is still very strong.
Steam Powered Giraffe: Honeybee
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4S61SH_pVpg
“Down With The Trumpets” Rizzle Kicks:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ip8OsExLJs
“Tennessee Tiki” Royal Ruckus (w/ Spoken NErd, J-Qwess):
http://royalruckus.bandcamp.com/track/tennessee-tiki-with-spoken-nerd-j-qwess
“Forest Whitaker” Brother Ali:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEwmywm6S7k
“Inner Ninja” Classified (feat. David Myles):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fDuNuFNG38
“When I Was Young” Wood Brothers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejn_00UQGYU
Mostly Summery Feel-Goodery songs that made me smile a lot this year. Please to enjoy.
Rescue Mister by Trust
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuS_RDjznBQ
Untitled No. 1 by David Bowie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hxkwaXaGKI
Learnalilgivinalovin by Gotye
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eW-vvjFMAM
Shoot The Dog by George Michael
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-tBDkx7_6c
Goodblue by School Food Punishment
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cf-naSA3-QM
Don’t know if something will be lost in translation…
But here’s a little classic Argentinian rock, in no specific order:
1. Jijiji – Patricio Rey y sus redonditos de ricota
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzN4Ep5Jkgk
2. Tan solo – Los Piojos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mm1TaASdLOM
3. De mi – Charly Garcia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4sS-1X-GWE
4. Pappo – Desconfio de la vida
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGpoy7yX86s
5. Soda Stereo – De musica ligera
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IibXYWSBpZw
(the videos are not very good though, there are few official videos)
Ah, I’ll just go one better and put up stuff you can download now.
Lily & Madeleine, “Back to the River”:
http://www.last.fm/music/Lily+&+Madeleine/_/Back+to+the+River
Beautiful voices working in harmony and sweet old-timey rhythm. Yes. Everytime. Yes.
Break the Bans, “Wham Bam”:
http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Break_The_Bans/We_Dont_Care_If_Yor_Love_Us_Or_Not/01_-_Wham-Bam
Russian garage rock at its catchiest (I mean, I guess). Don’t worry: it is about fucking.
Dada Centauri, “Untitled”
http://www.unitstructure.ca/#USSR026CD
I don’t know what your opinion on noise music is, but this is ultimately a very rewarding piece.
Thomas Feiner & Anywhen, “Siren Songs”
http://www.last.fm/music/Thomas+Feiner+&+Anywhen/_/The+Siren+Songs
Just a beautiful, dirge-y cabaret-theatre-feely piece, smooth like port.
Swim, “Hold On”
http://www.last.fm/music/Swim/_/Hold+On
Here. Here is your obligatory bit of faux-80s.
Ghost – Ghuleh
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRB1hTjxjMg
Os Mutantes – Top Top
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ai-rk1ngofo
Gramatik – The Drink Is Called Rakija
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUSo27xkjU8
Hot Sugar – The Kid Who Drowned At Summer Camp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0z0famvPPY
Atmosphere – Yesterday
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ar9aHGuduY
I normally never comment here, but I really owe you for turning me on to Gotye and Janelle Monáe and Blitzen Trapper(!), so here’s my five!
“Inhaler” by Foals:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJ_PMvjmC6M
“All Who Remain” by Beware of Darkness:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7_RS6pOao0
“Midnight Breaks” by Waterflame:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFWx-TYhheU
“Those Days are Gone” by Barton Carroll:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkn6Df9qpT8
“Águas de Março” as covered by these folks:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKCM71QM4rk
“Anything, Anything” by Dramarama
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nznnfRlYPs
“No Aphrodisiac” by The Whitlams
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isJkZAVcW7g
“Little Conversations” by Concrete Blonde
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUhlXXm0B7s
“Love Walks In” by The Earthmen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtlNx47vrjM
“What’s Come Over Me” by Frente
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjX2NtjKVck
Julian – great to see there are still fellow Savatage fans floating around!! Do you listen to TSO?
Sixteen Horsepower – “Black Soul Choir” – http://youtu.be/f-vpAn15-vE
Abney Park – “Airship Pirate” – http://youtu.be/YPH1OoTobtk
Murder by Death – “No Oath, No Spell” – http://youtu.be/rCmeeRQtWQE
Crooked Still – “Little Sadie” – http://youtu.be/4Fk4uBgPSPc
Pat Boone – “Holy Diver” – http://youtu.be/sfmcrXNuCwg (I can’t call it ‘good,’ as such, but holy shit it’s a thing you have to hear to believe)
Creep In A T-Shirt – Portugal. The Man
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daB9QRwVQH4
Loose Your Heart And It’s Found – Sin Fang (Fraggle Rock cover)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXhSdvKEePA
Yaa I Get It – Shad
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EaB3ed-Ph0
Always Alright – Alabama Shakes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IynzsSy3WKg
I Wanna Be Yours – Arctic Monkeys
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yptzhhXyj1s
Heart of Steel, Galactic featuring Irma Thomas.
The Watchmaker’s Apprentice, the Clockwork Quartet.
48 Roses, Mariachi El Bronx.
’52 Ford, Murder by Death.
Our Perfect Disease, the Wombats.
C W McCall Cannibal Song (Alfred Packer)
http://youtu.be/ympqTKltxE8
Fighting Trousers – Professor Elemental
http://youtu.be/0iRTB-FTMdk
Mercs 2 Ad Oh No You Didn’t
http://youtu.be/RKnY7oizpuM
Gorky Park – Bang
http://youtu.be/lrSKG3TS0uE
Geto Boys – My Minds Playing Tricks On Me (NSFW – uncensored)
http://youtu.be/ee0IKr7jkMo
Seeing as how you introduced me to July Talk, which is now my baby daughter’s favourite album, it seems only fair to return the favour, so hope you find something enjoy here –
Malibu Shark Attack! – Doing It Wrong
https://soundcloud.com/nodancing/malibu-shark-attack-doing-it-1
Melt Yourself Down – We Are Enough
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6qLH6_ZIxg&list=PL2CiQYJ2D8I9H_XlcwIaiUGOl9_Ui3JRt
The Jepettos – Water
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=EPwArl5M9fw
Francophilippe – Boombox
https://soundcloud.com/dj-francophilippe/francophilippe-boombox?in=dj-francophilippe/sets/originals
The Joy Formidable – The Leopard and the Lung https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cbJHq2JqYE
N.E.R.D. – You Know What
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=km7K6oPPM3c
Feed Me – Gravel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncBU8IR4k_M
Battles – My Machines (ft. Gary Numan)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkgQ88G8Hj8
Wide Mouth Mason – Ease Your Mind
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wt5rzXaqD0
Starving Artists Crew – The Kick Clap
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCHaLwKv6i8
“Circles Around The Sun” – by Dispatch
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=op9S1i7nZNE
“Writing A Novel” by Father John Misty
http://youtu.be/ga0ksTIagsg
“E Watson” by The Decemberists
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0pbJiM60L-Q
“Sacred Ground” by Over The Rhine
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ao8ySLx_nQA
“Coffee and Wine” by Chadwick Stokes
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RV12cDj0YBM
Bright Red Helmet by Styrofoam
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fm5DLg5KuRA
Bloodied Up by Alkaline Trio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wmfg_S5Dc1E
Snow Is Gone by Josh Ritter
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5wHtyE9Sok
Drowning by Hundred Reasons
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhOkfpcpjig
Get Away by Butcher The Bar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_twJak_G1HY
Amplify Dot
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_7k1BCI24g&list=FLht1t56cbL0j7bu1P1wl5HQ&index=18
Akira the Don — try the first track
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1k6O2uSWWo&list=FLht1t56cbL0j7bu1P1wl5HQ&index=27
Scroobius Pip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_Gh8TWpQE8&list=FLht1t56cbL0j7bu1P1wl5HQ&index=66
The Last Shadow puppets — this has got to be a Bond theme one day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cQloro92xA&list=FLht1t56cbL0j7bu1P1wl5HQ&index=71
Mr B the Gentleman rhymer — best chap hop artist out there
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xT2iP5Si-Ho&list=FLht1t56cbL0j7bu1P1wl5HQ&index=93
All right, let’s contribute some local Aussie stuff to the deluge, because probably nobody else will?
1. Driftwood by Lincoln Le Fevre. http://poisoncityrecords.bandcamp.com/track/driftwood My boyfriend was like “no not one of the sad sack ones rec Hope and Crown” but this is the song I have the most feelings about off the album. The rest are great too though.
2. Don’t Change Your Plans by Jen Buxton http://poisoncityrecords.bandcamp.com/track/dont-change-your-plans I’m just… my taste in music is a lot more sad sack than I am.
3. Jamie Hay & the Smith Street Band’s cover of Making the Noveaux Riche, although look up the original if you like your punk shoutier than this http://poisoncityrecords.bandcamp.com/track/making-the-nouveau-riche
4. I don’t know what new country is but Wil Wagner’s Laika will make you sad about a dog so let me know if that’s too close and I’ll replace it http://poisoncityrecords.bandcamp.com/track/laika
5. and finally something a little bit less recent, in honour of them fiiiinally touring again, Gravity by the Superjesus. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2irG5nExJA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wShlgYkiqSY Ich Erinnere Mich An Die Weimarer Republik by World/Inferno Friendship Society
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5Dypaw46fA Syke! Life is Awesome! by Bomb The Music Industry!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_3SBBCD-iE The Tide by Mallory
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjtlBAOpH54 Day Gaunts by Days N’ Daze
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_hc9a6sOtA Times Worth Living (The Tension) by Pat The Bunny
Radwimps – Order Made
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0Jdnkr8xRA
Mystery Skulls – Money
http://mysteryskulls.bandcamp.com/track/money
Gotye – Easy Way Out
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEpfyBOdKxU
Pig with the Face of a Boy – A Complete History of the Soviet Union (Arranged to the Melody of Tetris)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWTFG3J1CP8
Barenaked Ladies – Call and Answer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3AmY5HXzgA
Trying to find some stuff that’s new/new-ish that maybe you haven’t heard. You may note there’s a theme of new bands taking an older sound (70s style blues rock, 60s mod, 80s synth rock) and really making it their own.
Band of Skulls – Blood
Easily one of my favorite bands to come out in the last few years.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzqNpOqjx6M
Amanda Palmer & the Grand Theft Orchestra – The Killing Type
Not her usual sound, but this album is just brilliant. Another one of my absolute favorite artists of the last decade.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhFsKCF56xU
Black Country Communion – Beggarman
This band is a supergroup made up of Glenn Hughes (from Deep Purple), Jason Bonham (son of John Bonham), Derek Sherinian (formerly of Dream Theater) and Joe Bonamossa. With all of that, one would think they’d be getting more play.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWqeQFVAyhk
The Black Belles – What Can I Do?
This group was found and recorded by Jack White. You’ll hear a similar kind of sound, with sparse instrumentation but really catchy hooks.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXNTQ-GmMkM
Imelda May – Big Bad Handsome Man
And now for something completely different. She does a lot of jazz/swing/rockabilly, and this song pretty much sold the album.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BMhQd_UQR0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ul85cepZ_jw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xd3Ch53PxBs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVlgMEFu1PI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_X6FaHq9jQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuRKe9JVmAU
Digitalism – Miami Showdown: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfMdV-SE2bs
Jason Forrest – War Photographer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAFXayH1bpY
Geoff Knorr and Michael Curran – Civilization V Original Soundtrack, Epitaph of Seikilos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kpVrmRkPWk
Paul Leonard Morgan – Camera: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFWBuonmM3Q
DJ Shadow – Number Song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AznJpGpkDFM
Linking mostly to AMVs, as some of them are better than any official music video. 😉
E Nomine – Mitternacht
Sister Machine Gun – Burn (Note: this was on Mortal Kombat soundtrack!)
E.S. Posthumus – Pompeii
Reel Big Fish – Kiss Me Deadly
Jennifer Warnes – First We Take Manhattan
“Brother” by Murder by Death: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zt2Sf2-o94g
“Icarus” by Jason Webley: http://jasonwebley.bandcamp.com/track/icarus
“Golden and Green” by The Builders and the Butchers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CirGCKj5ZGw
“The Garden of Forking Paths” by Steve Goldberg and the Arch Enemies: http://songs.stevegoldbergmusic.com/track/the-garden-of-forking-paths
“In Old Yellowcake” by Rasputina: http://youtu.be/WCwctonqk-c
I confess, The Weakerthans would have made it in there with something, but I’m guessing you might have heard of them already, what with them being Canadian and great.
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy – Save My Soul
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5IEt63qOSI
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy – Ghost of Smokey Joe
http://mp3.li/index.php?q=Big%20Bad%20Voodoo%20Daddy%20-%20The%20Ghost%20Of%20Smokey%20Joe#.UuGLFxCtbIU
(not sure about the link though)
Anthony Head Sweet Transvestite
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Uq2vaP2cLU
Lea DeLaria, Hot Patootie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-qt9ihViFo&list=FLInlJloYouS3F4hbVekBj7g&index=1
Całujcie mnie wszyscy w dupę (You can all kiss my ass), a poem by Julian Tuwim
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdmZYu9Lths&list=FLInlJloYouS3F4hbVekBj7g
(yeah, this one is going to be weird, but what the hell)
I’m really looking forward to reading what you have to say about these:
There is possibly no Chinese-speaking person alive today who will not belt out this song the moment he or she hears it in a bar.
Beyond, “Boundless Ocean Endless Sky” – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIeTcFgdd_4
Cher has never recorded a Jim Steinman song. This is a tragedy, as this song – the closest thing – demonstrates.
Cher, “Just Like Jesse James” – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZE8oCbqI4vU
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya is an immensely popular anime that I’ve never watched. But I fell in love with this little slice of Japanese California-rock the minute I heard it.
Aya Hirano, “Lost My Music” – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MI_wWlz2Rck
I don’t know what you’ll make of this Malaysian song (whose title translates to “to live again after death”), I just hope its elegiac beauty comes across.
Butterfingers, “Mati Hidup Kembali” – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gbte1gEde-4
One of their lesser-known songs, but for my money, one of the most poignant breakup songs ever written.
Hootie & The Blowfish, “Goodbye” – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49oSit63A2Y
Five artists/bands not already listed at the time of writing…
Anna Lena and the Orchids – View of my Sanity
The Count of Chateau Noir – After the Carnival
Julie Fader – Maps
Lanterns on the Lake – In Starlight
Photocomfort – Holy Ropes
March of Cambreadth by Heather Alexander: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCrnF844_ww
Black Fox by Heather Dale:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDqLvt4LRVs
When you’re Evil by Voltaire:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O00dsKqrVFY
They Don’t Know by Michael Longcor:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IeQO8lg5P4
Halfman’s Song by Miracle of Sound:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOQsYk8cbnE
Fitzpleasure by alt-J
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npvNPORFXp
Future Starts Slow by The Kills
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiLjuRG3hoE
Born at the Right Time by Dappled Cities
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCnnWlFfYn0
Two Steps Twice by Foals
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkrYuNiHKYU
You’re an Animal by Jonathan Boulet
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxErMzVBLxY
1. Heaven in her Arms – Converge
2. Dopesmoker – Sleep
3. Rebel Within – Hank Williams III
4. Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise – The Avett Brothers
5. I Know, I Know, I Know – Tegan and Sara
Aesop Rock – One of Four (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_oSVnjrShI)
The Antlers – kettering
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgLm2gInV4A)
The Mountain Goats – No Children
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRP6egIEABk)
Why? – Gemini Birthday Song
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUHw3mYQYTg)
DJ Krush – Song #2
(http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-goioYYudI)
No one likes Superman anymore: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJXZRxOmaOw
Everywhere I Go: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKAE6ZRxfwE
My Evil Plan to save the world: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NCfAO2ulBM
Henchman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnI8mQvcNX0
An Open Letter to Stephen Fry: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7n_hkeYGcT0
The Children of Sunshine – Dandelions
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F07o5_AP6zw&list=PL43184A9E58E8F7D7)
Jesse Garon & the Desperadoes – You’ll Never Be That Young Again
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8rwEKzrDas)
Los Campesinos! – Death to Los Campesinos!
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpUViv00u5Y)
The Raincoats – No Side to Fall In
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6h4-G8HlrIM)
The Shop Assistants – Safety Net
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MugWrKFcGS8)
The five latest songs added to my playlist:
1. A Hebrew-Gaelic take on a Russian folk song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9Vvv5XZTeo
2. The Spotnicks – Never Trust a Robot
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aocmqLOJxOg
3. Drakengard 2 – Growing Wings. (Re-read Dark Id’s LP of Drakengard 2 and downloaded this. Don’t think I’ll listen to it too often, it’s a bit too sad for me in context)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCN3J3EnzVM
4. Beltaine – Łódź by Night (I like the bands whole Polish-Irish thing in general, so this one is fairly arbitrary based on being added to my playlist last)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udfB4svdOII
5. Better be one-legged than lonely (from the Russian cartoon version of Treasure Island)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiAlDKyedJc&t=58m0s
Some of my favorite stuff from the past year:
Hell – End Ov Days
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETUx-taQ9yM
Inquisition – Joined by Dark Matter, Repelled by Dark Energy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpGGAQx0u6s
Vreid – The Devil’s Hand
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpylQa1Whlg
Watain – They Rode On
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hp9QacQA7lc
Plus the brand new track from one of my favorite bands:
Unleash the Archers – Dreamcrusher
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcjWNxTGxcI
It’s all metal, but no -core to be found here.
Okay, here we go.
Just the songs:
1. “Crave” – The Simpletons
2. “Pinstripe” – Something For Kate
3. “Si Demain” – Bonnie Tyler & Kareen Antonn
4. “Hallelujah” – John Cale
5. “Slow Way To Go Down” – My Friend The Chocolate Cake.
Commentary:
1. YES THAT’S RIGHT I LINKED TO MYSPACE.
… *ahem*. Actually, that’s the only place I can find this one. It’s off the “Smother” EP, which is pretty much impossible to find these days.
I actually have it on record that I was sold the last ever new copy that Candle Records would sell. You can read more about what happened to The Simpletons at the previous link, but if you like that, you should probably try to find some of Darren Hanlon’s stuff.
2. From SFK’s debut album, this remains one of my favourite tracks of theirs. It’s a perfect intersection of their melancholic lyricism and raw sound that gets to me every time I listen to it.
3. So, I heard this on the radio not long after moving to France, and thought “Wow, that English singer is out-Bonnie-ing Bonnie Tyler.” Turns out it was Bonnie Tyler, outdoing her own self. Anyway, the fact that I heard Les Enfoires doing “Si L’on S’aimait, Si” not long after left me with the impression that the French had a thing for awesome strange covers of English originals.
4. I know everyone knows this because of “Shrek”. I’m including it anyway, for reasons.
I hope you’re familiar with the album “I’m Your Fan”. Honestly, I could have picked almost any track from it (e.g. Jean-Louis Murat’s cover of “Avalanche IV” – see above comment). However, this was the first Cohen cover I heard where I thought that the artist had truly made it their own, while staying superbly faithful to the original. I think that this, and the Jeff Buckley version, are the only two that stand alongside Cohen’s original. (Also, this is the version that was actually used in the Shrek film, and everyone who thinks that it’s a Rufus Wainwright song because he re-covered it for the soundtrack album because of rights issues can suck it).
5. Another under-appreciated Aussie band. With bonus chocolate cake recipe, apparently. A good song to close things with.
“Jigsaw” by Marillion
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0e042ZZnCw
“Walking Talking Johnny Cash Blues” by the Godfathers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VtDlvRvZSM
“When All Is Said and Done” by ABBA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUh4u-lYEhM
“No Sign of Yesterday” by Men at Work
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQJ_SjMdMq4
“Of Monsters and Heroes and Men” by James
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLCE5KDBcmc
L.A. Symphony – “Broken Tape Decks”
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXwoe6IJs1c)
All Things Bright and Beautiful – “Attractive and Unattractive”
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7drGDjV99RM)
Sleater-Kinney – “Jumpers”
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZA_7FtttRY)
Mutemath – “Typical” (if only for the incredible music video)
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XVWR-5fiG0)
The Brothers Martin – “Communication”
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17gVQCX554Y)
The follow up post will be the biggest post ever.
Also, I should point out, the only reason I didn’t put a P.O.S. song on my list was that Fuck Your Stuff had already been recommended way the fuck up there. God I love P.O.S.