I put together two youtube playlists of songs posted in 2012:
New Artist Thursdays (My take on them): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxuqydyg9bk&list=PLcR4c-p-EwSEnaGGHs1d3bgNxQlTtlpwh
Guilty Pleasures (My take on them): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83j4ICes2i4&list=PLcR4c-p-EwSE9WEF86nxa8DSubHnVYaiC
I’m still thinking about my top 30 of 2013, will put them in a playlist once I have decided what should be in there!
/RjK
Gene Kelly* – Singin’ in the rain (GPF)
From John Talabot to Gene Kelly! I would like to think that is a pretty neat summary of the journey this blog has taken me on and of the variable music that grabs my attention (however fleetingly in some cases).
My mother was watching a program yesterday about Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire which focused on their choreography and I found myself, much to my surprise, transfixed by this. Both the music and his dancing. I am not a big fan of musicals by any stretch of the imagination but this just filled me with joy. What talent those guys had!
It is fitting in one regard I suppose as I reflect on 2012 and what it meant to me. One thing about moving to Dublin is that I have had to deal with a lot more precipitation! I should learn to cope with it like Gene!
Let the stormy clouds chase everyone from the place. Come on with the rain I’ve a smile on my face. I’ll walk down the lane with a happy refrain. Just singing, singing in the rain…
/RjK
*Artist #584
John Talabot* – When the past was present (NAT)
Barcelona DJ John Talabot isn’t someone I know a lot about but I have noted that he has been getting a lot of love in Best of 2012 lists that I have been reading in the past month or so. This prompted me to check out some of his stuff, particularly his album fIN from which this track is taken. Pretty enjoyable stuff.
/RjK
*Artist #583
Kooley High* – David Thompson
This mellow number has been helping me with my turkey-induced post Christmas stupour. It’s from North Carolina’s Kooley High, who I have been really enjoying recently.
It’s taken from the Album of the same name which was released about a year ago and was named afer David “Skywalker” Thompson and not my buddy, neighbour and sometimes blog contibutor of the same name!
/RjK
*Artist #582
The Ronettes – Sleigh Ride
If it has to be a Christmas song (and at this time of year unfortunately they seem to be unavoidable) it might as well be The Ronettes, Phil Spector and The Wall of Sound (or perhaps Wham!). Music doesn’t get much better than that magical combination.
This is taken from the 1963 album A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector. Setting aside the Christmas motif it is actually a pretty spectacular record.
Merry Christmas all…
/RjK
FIDLAR* – West Coast
I have to give it up to the S//S//N blog for introducing me to LA band FIDLAR. The youthful vigour here is really refreshing, it’s been stuck in my head for the past few days (helpfully drowning out all the Christmas tunes that seem to be inescapable).
/RjK
*Artist #581
James Brown* – It’s a man’s man’s man’s world
I came across an amazing photo of James Brown with The Rolling Stones on the ever enjoyable Awesome people hanging out together Tumblr recently (see pic below). It made realise (shamefully) that I hadn’t posted the legendary JB yet, nearly two years into my blogging odyssey. So it’s about time I righted this wrong.
James Brown has one of the most arresting voices I have ever heard and the opening 30 seconds of this track still make the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end every time I hear it.
/RjK
*Artist #580
Joy Orbison – Ellipsis
This is a track from 2011 favourite Joy Orbison. He is a London DJ that makes music that tends to span several genres but tends to be chilled out and sometimes even euphoric, such as Hyph Mngo which I posted last year.
I meant to post this earlier in the year but it slipped my mind until this week when a friend kindly sent me Resident Advisor’s top 50 tracks of 2012 and this was number 3.
/RjK
Will Smith* – Gettin’ jiggy wit’ it (GPF)
The Fresh Prince of Bel Air!
I was inspired to post this by last week’s guilty pleasure, He’s The Greatest Dancer which this samples extensively (and in fairness to pretty good effect). I was in two minds though until I saw the video (it’s frustrating that I wasn’t able to find a better quality one) and then couldn’t resist.
/RjK
*Artist #579
Twigs* – Breath (NAT)
I have heard varying reports about UK artists Twigs. Some places I read she is portrayed as an unknown, mysterious female version of James Blake. But DJ/Rupture, one of my music oracles, suggested otherwise and I quote “top-down industry product masquerading as white label single. but its good.”
I certainly agree with the last sentiment anyway, and that’s all that really matters. I like the songs quiet intensity. Somehow it was the right song to be listening to on a horrible grey winters day.
/RjK
*Artist #578