How to dress well – Decisions
Edwyn Collins – A girl like you
This guy came up in conversation last night when I was at a buddy’s house for dinner. What an interesting (and prolific) life he has lead. I didn’t know he was the lead singer of 80’s favourites Orange Juice or that he had recovered from a stroke in 2005 and managed returned to performing.
More than anything though, this is a fantastic song. I first heard right about the time I was becoming conscious of music and it sounded like nothing I had ever heard before. It is dark and brooding and has a great retro sound. Also, what KILLER guitar?
You’ve made me acknowledge the devil in me. I hope to God I’m talkin’ metaphorically…
RjK
The Futureheads – Hounds of love
I have been listening to lots of Kate Bush recently, particularly her spectacular 2005 Album Aerial. Having already posted her this year I am unable to highlight anything from it on here until January at least. In light of that fact I thought this would be the next best thing.
It is one of my favourite cover versions and I listened to it endlessly when I was at university. It is an interesting take – clever, energetic and fun.
RjK
The Notorious B.I.G. – Juicy
I can’t post Tupac without posting Biggie as well. It is a little bit of a cliche, nerdy white guys liking gangster rap but this is irresistible.
RjK
Darondo – Didn’t I
There are predominately two types of song that I have featured on the blog. Ones that crept up on me slowly, requiring several listens before I eventually fell for them. Then there are the ones that kicked me in the butt the first time I heard them and I knew instantly that they were fly and my first reaction was to listen to them again (and again and again…) straight away.
This song fits into the latter category, in that I have been listening to it over and over since first hearing it recently. It is classic 70’s soul in the ilk of The Isley Brothers and Al Green. This guy’s voice couldn’t fit the song and genre any better.
Miguel featuring J.Cole – All I want is you
This is silky smooth. I don’t know too much about either of the artists but I heard it on the radio yesterday and it grabbed me. I tend to be drawn to things that sound a bit different to whatever I have been listening to at the time. I haven’t been listening to much hip hop or R’nB lately and so the timing was perfect.
RjK
I haven’t posted much current music recently so it is good to highlight something fresh. This lo-fi, dreamy number has been stuck in my head all day. I also think Best Coast is an excellent name, particularly given their Californian origins. I really like their sound too, like a lazy, hazy day on the beach spent chilling like a villain.
/RjK
Again today, this probably not the most apt song to post on a frigid December night. However it has been on my mind recently and particularly the song’s opening (an all time favourite) is irresistible to me. I am aware that it is a little cheesy but it’s also kind of splendid at the same time. A perfect microcosm of 80’s music.
Nobody on the road, nobody on the beach. I feel it in the air, the summer’s out of reach. Empty lake, empty streets, the sun goes down alone. I’m driving by your house though I know that you not home…
/RjK
This probably isn’t a very apt song to post on a freezing, grey December day. However, the reason it has been on mind recently is that I was out for dinner a couple of weeks ago with a few Irish kids. As the conversation turned to music and home Tom Dunne came up. He used to present a show called Pet Sounds on Today FM that we all used to listen to religiously. This blast of welcome nostalgia got me thinking about all the music that I used to listen to as a naive teenager. Watch out for a few more tracks of this ilk before the year is out.
/RjK
StewRat – Disagreements
Terrible band name, pretty good song. It’s smooth and funky (I think I can hear a Barry White sample somewhere in there). I think these guys are French but otherwise I know almost nothing about them. They were suggested by a good buddy and I couldn’t resist the beat.
RjK