Bee Gees – More than a woman
The Band – The night they drove old Dixie down
Similar to Cortez the killer, this is a history lesson wrapped in an excellent song. My school curriculum didn’t feature any Conquistadors or Civil Wars (not American ones at any rate) so tracks like these are illuminating for me. The lyrics weave a rich narrative. Also, Virgil (the protagonist) is an excellent name – both a classic Roman poet and a Thunderbird.
Finally, this song features in a classic concert and documentary – the last waltz, capturing the end of The Band’s touring career. It featured guest appearances from lots of the great and good from the mid-70’s including a performance from my ultimate musical hero – Van Morrison.
Two Door Cinema Club – Undercover Martyn
These guys are a band from Northern Ireland, and are signed to the same label as Phoenix (I seem to have made several references to them recently – not sure why). Despite reading several glowing reviews I am yet to be wowed by too much of their stuff.
However, I have been enjoying this track a lot recently. What I most like about it is the intro, which I think is great. The rest of the song is pretty good too, jangly and energetic – two excellent qualities in a pop song.
The answering machine – Lifeline
I thought I would post something current as I have been stuck on a few old favourites in recent days. I don’t know a great deal about these guys other than they are an up and coming band from Manchester.
I hear some of that musical tradition in this song, from Doves to the Smiths and Joy Division. I don’t know if these guys will ever make it into that class, but I have certainly found this to be pretty arresting today.
It feels like spring has arrived in London today – I am sure it won’t last…
A friend and I were talking somewhat irreverently about Michael Jackson yesterday. When I got home I got to thinking that it is easy to dismiss the caricature that he became near the end and forget how talented he really was.
He released so many great songs and albums and when you take into account The Jackson Five it is actually pretty amazing. But what strikes me most about this video is that he could flat out MOVE. I would love to exhibit that amount of grace just once in my life.
Spandex? Check. Hoop Earring? Check. Bouffant hair? Check. Tight trousers? Check. Amazing synth? Check. This must have been released in the 80’s then. It is cheesy but hard to dislike.
Things I love about this video include (but are not limited to) – the guitarist’s leopardprint jacket/white scarf combo, the ridiculous oversize drum kit, the singer’s high kicks, the drummer’s headband and shiny green sleeveless leather jacket.
/Van Halen – Jump
Marvin Gaye – Come get to this
Taken from the sublime, and somewhat misunderstood Let’s get it on which followed on from the equally impressive What’s going on? I can’t imagine there have been many better back to back offerings that that. This particular track is one of his lesser known gems.
/RjK
P.S. Further to this post I put my mind to thinking about back to back albums that I love. Feel free to disagree/add your own:
Van Morrison – Astral Weeks and Moondance (Naturally)
Neil Young – After the Gold Rush and Harvest
Bruce Springsteen – Born to run and Darkness on the edge of town
The Beatles – Abbey Road and Let it be
Prince – Around the world in a day and Sign of the times
Some more modern releases:
Michael Jackson – Thriller and Bad
Oasis – Definitely maybe and (What’s the story) Morning glory?
De la soul – 3 feet high and rising and De la soul is dead
Bjork – Post and Homogenic
Outkast – Aquemini and Stankonia
Outkast – SpottieOttieDopaliscious
This is taken from Aquimini, Outkast’s 3rd album. It’s a good one, my favourite of their albums. People seem to forget they made music before Ms.Jackson and long before Hey Ya. It’s a pity because a lot of it is really great.
I LOVE the horns on this track, they are so languid and perfectly complement the vocals.
Lucky Soul – White Russian Doll
These guys remind me of a British version of Phoenix with a female singer. They have a happy knack of making 3 minutes of perfect pop. They also clearly know how to put a hip video together.
A funny comment posted (not by me) on youtube about the above video:
“Dear lucky soul,
Slightly bizarrely the first track a youtube search just now of “Fleetwood Mac Dreams” returned was Sir Mix-a-lot’s Baby got back. Erm…
Anyway, it took me a long time to realise how good Fleetwood Mac were. I think I might still be coming to terms with just how good. I listened to Rumours again recently for the first time in a while and it is simply staggering. It’s hard to single out one but this track probably shades it as my favourite.
Have you any dreams you’d like to sell…
/RjK
forever yours,
-me”