A friend asked me to put together a mix of songs for his wedding party in a couple of months. This is something of a dream task for me because it means I get to listen to lots of cheesy songs and not feel “guilty” about it.
As part of this research I came across this track from American singer Cyndi Lauper and was reminded about what a great pop song it is.
Cyndi Lauper:
/RjK
*Artist #718
I came across this track, by American singer Neko Case, on Pitchfork this week. While it isn’t the type of thing that gets my pulse racing (it is just a little tame perhaps) it has been playing on repeat since. It’s funny how that can happen sometimes.
It is taken from her wonderfully titled upcoming album The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The Harder I Fight, The More I Love You.
Neko Case:
/RjK
*Artist #717
CjK Guest Post – Summer Cover #10
I cannot imagine Johnny cash coming in of an evening and putting on the Nine Inch Nails, who originally recorded the song “Hurt”. The song clearly includes references to self-harm and heroin addiction, although the overall meaning of the song is disputed.
In this 2008 recording Cash is clearly ill and his condition has an added poignancy as he shows a video of himself in his prime. It certainly makes for an emotional charged video, which many refer to as his epitaph.
Johnny Cash:
/CjK
*Artist #716
This track from 2013 discoveries Clear Soul Forces makes it two Detroit tracks in a row. I really like the simple hook and some impressive lyrical dexterity here.
Even though the Motor City may be ailing it’s music has shaped my playlist in 2013 just about more than anything else (and I don’t even mean Motown – this is an ever present that by now I take for granted).
Whether it is Theo Parrish, J Dilla, Black Milk or Moodymann it seems like a disproportionate number of Detroit artist have gotten my musical attention recently.
Clear Soul Forces:
/RjK
I stumbled across this track from Detroit singer Dee Edwards over the weekend and it’s silky smoothness has been on my mind since. It has also been way too long since I posted some soul.
Dee Edwards:
/RjK
*Artist #715
Every once in a while when I find the time I very much enjoy listening to the Sinner’s Crossroads show on the wonderful WFMU radio station. It features “Scratchy vanity 45’s, pilfered field recordings, muddy, homemade congregational tapes and vintage commercial gospel throw-downs: a little preachin’, a little salvation and a little audio tomfoolery…”
It was listening to the last week that I came across this track, from 1950. I found it’s raw, fervent energy to be utterly spellbinding.
/RjK
*Artist #714
What I really find interesting about this track (and especially the video) from Congolese artist Fredy Massamba is how American it seems. It is like American (or maybe French, like blog favourite MC Solaar) hip hop culture transplanted to Africa, so completing a cycle.
Fredy Massamba:
/RjK
*Artist #713
I heard this for the first time in ages a couple of days ago. I grew really tired of it after hearing it way too much after it’s 2006 release. But hearing it afresh I remembered it’s just a great pop tune with classic Scandinavian sound.
It is taken from Peter, Bjorn and John’s 2006 album Writer’s Block.
Peter, Bjorn and John:
/RjK
I don’t know too much about rising L.A. singer Banks, having discovered her earlier in the week via the Guardian’s New band of the day series. The word that comes to mind here is sultry and it’s certainly very catchy. Is she an American version of Jessie Ware?
Banks:
/RjK
*Artist #712
CjK Guest Post – Summer Cover #9
What’s not to like about a song that seems to start with some one reading the German railway timetable? Jennifer Warnes recorded an album called the ‘Famous Blue Raincoat’ to bring her take on Leonard Cohen‘s song in 1987.
She cannot match Cohen’s low menace in ‘first we take Manhattan then we take Berlin’, which may mock German terrorist of the time, but she does rattle along well in this version.
Jennifer and Leonard:
/CjK
*Artist #711