Tag Archive for 2000’s

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Skinnyman – Love’s gone from the streets

Skinnyman is a rapper who hails from my current neighbourhood, Finsbury Park. This track is taken from Council estate of mind, which a good friend had rightly lauded to me what seems like a lifetime ago in 2004.

I like how the gritty and clever lyrics contrast the smooth (and apt) sample.

This post is the last from me for a few days as I am off to Munich to enjoy Oktoberfest and a good friend’s stag party. Don’t fret however as I have lined up some guest bloggers in my absence so you will still get your daily dose of music. They all have influenced my taste in music and fueled my musical meanderings so I thought it would be cool for them to have a say too.

Speak to you in a week. RJ

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The Go! Team – The power is on



I was reminded of these guys recently when I saw that they are playing in London in the near future. Thunder, lightening, strike sounded so fresh when I first heard it, I found it to be exhilarating listening. The Go! Team may have fallen out of my consciousness of late, but this still sounds great.

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Say hi to your mom – They write books about this sort of thing

I used to listen to these guys a bit when I was at university, walking the streets of Belfast. Not sure how I came across them but I think it was their name that initially caught my snickering, juvenile eye. I like this track’s quiet, almost hushed tone and sense of youthful longing. When I listen to it I always feel a bit wistful (in a good way).

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The Shins – Caring is creepy

Short post after a long day. Something soothing to send me towards slumber on a rainy Monday night. Was reminded of this when watching Garden State recently.

18th September

Mayer Hawthorne – Make her mine

This is has an old fashioned soul sound, which is never bad. I saw the dapper Mayer Hawthorne and his touring band, The County (pretty good name) in London in 2010 and it was one of the best gigs I went to all year. It was so fun, just like an old fashioned soul review.

17th September

Roisin Murphy – Through time

Roisin Murphy is the former lead singer of late 90’s and early 2000’s electro-pop darlings Moloko. She is slightly eccentric and richly talented, perhaps a little like an Irish Bjork. This is taken from her 2005 debut solo album Ruby Blue which was a massive favourite in my university days and used to get heavy play on my old radio show.

Endlessly formulating foolish, romantic ideals of love…

11th September

Ryan Adams – New York, New York

This seemed like the right song to post today. I still remember this day 10 years ago very vividly. I watched the television dumbfounded, unable to comprehend, as one of the most startling events I had ever experienced unfolded on the screen.

31st August

Broken Social Scene – Lover’s Spit

This is another favourite I discovered in Berkeley. Broken Social Scene seemed to be everywhere, on every stereo in every house party, so when I hear them I think of those happy times. This certainly helps my appreciation of them.

This version is taken from Bee Hives, rather than the one on You forgot it in people. Both are good but this is the one for me, having a bare, slow urgency which speaks to me.

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Republic of loose – Comeback girl

These guys are an Irish band with what I think to be a great name. They also have a solid sound, laid back and funky.

I particularly enjoy this track it and random video (Especially the dude fishing in the bathtub! That is the stuff hipster dreams are made of). It was a big favourite of mine when I was at university in Belfast and has remained so since.

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Alphabeat – Fascination

It is Saturday. Time to party. This is energetic and fun – all you could ask. They have something of Abba about them, and it’s not just the fact that they are both Scandinavian. It is 3 minutes of pure sunshine, with a video to match. Give it a listen/watch and I dare you not to smile.