23rd June 2012

The Futureheads – Beeswing

I have a little soft spot for singers that have a very obvious accent, given my own adventures in this field London. I spent about the first 18 months of living here being met by almost uniform blank looks (it still happens frequently).

Sunderland band The Futureheads are one such band. I suspected that they had been consigned to the annuls of one hit wonders after releasing a spectacular Kate Bush cover which I posted last year. However, I was surprised to hear them play this track live on TV last night and was very taken by it. It’s another cover, this time of British singer Richard Thompson and is taken from their recently released album Rant.

RjK

22nd June 2012

Todd Rundgren* – Can We Still Be Friends? (GPF)

This is perfectly melancholy. It is pure, blue-eyed soul. I was reminded of it this week while listening to a new compilation album by Groove Armada called Late Night Tales – Music for pleasure, a compilation of awesomely terrible 70’s and 80’s pop.

We awoke from our dream, things are not always what they seem. Memories linger on, it’s like a sweet sad old song…

Have a great weekend. I hope it’s more uplifting than this song!

RjK

*Artist #467

21st June 2012

Rudimental* – Spoons (NAT)

Hackney band Rudimental were new to me this week, but it seems that I was rather late on them as they are currently number one in the UK pop charts. I guess that is a testament to how irrelevant charts have become to me. Perhaps they should change it to reflect the most watched videos on Youtube.
I was out for dinner tonight in one of my favourite curry houses in London, Tayybs in Whitechapel. Check it out if you are ever in that neck of the woods, it is worth the queue.

RjK
*Artist #466

The Waterboys – Sweet Thing

I thought of this after posting Paul McCartney earlier in the week. It is a cover of one of my very favourite songs of all time, which I posted last year. Whilst this doesn’t quite hit the same heights and didn’t have the same impact upon me, the refrain of Blackbird (at approx. 4:30) really adds to this version.
Blackbirds singing in the dead of night…
It is taken from Fisherman’s Blues, which is a very enjoyable album with a stellar sleeve (see below).
 
/RjK

Chatham County Line* – Country boy, City boy

I don’t normally respond to live versions and bluegrass is a pretty new one for me, so this is a little bit of a rareity. However, I couldn’t get enough of it over the past couple of day. It has an energy and there is a truth to the lyrics that resonates with me (as a country boy living in the city).
I have been doing some research into bluegrass music as a couple of old friends from university have started playing in a bluegrass band an it piqued my interest. I was more impressed than I expected. I don’t know it I would want to listen to it all the time but it is nice as a change of pace.
One wishes that they were the other, the other just the same. One life so exciting, the other just so tame. If I was a country boy I’d wish for the city lights, If I was a City boy I’d wish for a quiet night…
As the mid-way point of the year approaches I have begun to think about a few highlights of 2012 so far. Does anyone have any suggestions? Look out of my list next week.
/RjK
*Artist #465

18th June 2012

The Beatles – Here, there and everywhere

I thought I would post some classic Paul McCartney to mark his 70th birthday today. You can’t help but admire the sheer volume of great and landscape altering tracks that he has written over the years.

RjK

17th June 2012

Nick Cave and PJ Harvey* – Henry Lee (CjK Father’s Day guest post)

 

Its amazing what you stumble upon in You Tube – I was looking for an entirely different Nick Cave song.

Let’s be clear on a few things about this more-than-a little-weird video: were they an item once? – yes; is this an old ballad – Yes it’s Nick’s arrangement of an old Southern ballad called Young Hunting; the video must have taken ages to get right? no it was done in only one take. 
You very seldom see a quiff and mullet carried off so well. Yes the lyrics are deeply horrible, but Polly Harvey’s androgynous suited-look fits them perfectly. 
Bet that La la la la la, La la la la lee.. sticks in your head for a while… 

CjK

*artist #464

16th June 2012

Kim Weston* – Helpless

This is a strangely rather unheralded early Motown track. In revisiting it this week I was reminded that it is a classic, right up there with any of the more famous stuff. It fulfils the basic requirement I have for a soul song in that it makes me want to move.

Look out for a special Father’s Day post tomorrow from the blogfather himself, my Dad. I will catch you all again on Monday. 

RjK

*Artist #463

15th June 2012

Nelly Furtado* – I’m like a bird (GPF)

This isn’t too substantial but is light and fun, which I guess is exactly what I am trying to achieve with my Friday posts. It brings back some fond memories from my school days.
Have a great weekend.
I’m like a bird…
RjK
*Artist #462

14th June 2012

La Mákina del Karibe* – Radio Gozambike (NAT)

This takes a few seconds to get going, but once it does it really gets going. It is Columbian artist that I heard on Afritanga: The sound of Afro Columbia, I collection I came across recently.
It has an infectious, manic energy that I found really irreisistible and reminds me a little of a Columbian version of Jonathan Richman and The Modern Lovers who my boy Brian posted for me a few months back.
 
RjK
*Artist #461