Tag Archive for Summary

The year in playlists…

New Artist Thursdays of 2013:

Guilty Pleasures of 2013:

Enjoy!!

/RjK

Top 30 of 2013

As promised, I have put together the 30 songs I enjoyed posting most this year in (rough) order. It was very challenging to do it and I would probably make a different list tomorrow. However, it is a good reflection of the music that moved me most last year.

As ever for me, it is a mixed list. Some old, some new and some things that I both discovered and re-discovered in 2013. I hope you enjoy it. Let me know if you had any big tunes that I missed.

Top 30 of 2013

1) Andrew Ashong and Theo Parrish – Flowers Based: London and Detroit Released: 2012 In a nutshell: Languid and hypnotic

2) North Philadelphia Juniors – I’m a soldier Philadelphia | 1950 | Gospel track of striking purity

3) Chance the Rapper – Juice Chicago | 2013 | Hip Hop with a fresh, funky slant

4) Moodymann – I need you so much / Runaway Detroit | 2004 | Smooth and dreamy

5) Slow Machete – The Ghost Bride Pittsburgh and Haiti | 2012 | Haitian choirs and US beats collide in stunning fashion

6) Donnie and Joe Emerson – Baby Fruitland, Washington | 1979 | A haunting soul ballad

7) The Underachievers – The Mahdi Brooklyn, New York | 2013 | Relentless, youthful hip hop with a old school video

8) Mazzy Star – Cry, Cry Santa Monica, California | 1996 | A re-discovered 90’s classic with wonderfully rich sound

9) Delegation – Oh Honey UK | 1978 | Silky smooth disco dreamland

10) Hugh Masekela and Letta Mbula – Mahlalela South Africa | 1966 | An incendiary call to arms

11) Jah Youssouf – M’Ami Mali | 2011 | A subtle and pure African love song

12) Action Bronson and Roc Marciano – Pouches of Tuna New York | 2012 | Simple hook and playful rhymes

13) The Valentinos – Sweeter than the day before Cleveland, Ohio | 1966 | A classic slice of northern soul

14) The Majestic Arrows – I’ll never cry for another boy ? | ? | What it lacks in polish it makes up for in pure magic

15) Clear Soul Forces – Get no better Detroit | 2012 | Serene beat matched with some impressive lyrical dexterity

16) Tape Waves – Ready Now Charleston, South Carolina | 2013 | Lo-fi, washed out sound

17) Joey Bada$$ – Snakes featuring T’nah Brooklyn, New York | 2012 | Laid back rhymes over a classic J Dilla Beat

18) Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers – Why do fools fall in love? Harlem, New York | 1956 | Joyous Doo Wop

19) Bassekou Kouyate and Ngoni Ba – Falani Mali | 2010 | Otherworldly and enthralling

20) Memoryhouse – To the lighthouse Ontario, Canada | 2010 | A charming “nostalgic bedroom project”

21) Them – Don’t look back Belfast | 1964 | A youthful Van Morrison in top form covering John Lee Hooker

22) Liza Flume – Poison Dublin, Ireland | 2013 | A fragile, looping sound creates something rather compelling

23) King Krule – Easy, Easy London | 2013 | A voice and message more powerful that his boyish looks would suggest

24) Laura Welsh – Unravel London | 2013 | A stripped back and simple pop song

25) Shy Girls – Under Attack Portland, Oregon | 2013 | 90’s R’nB influenced sound

26) Prince – Controversy Minnesota | 1981 | Prince is the funkiest man on the planet

27) How to dress well – Lover’s Start Brooklyn, New York | 2010 | Just the ticket to calm a racing mind

28) Fela Kuti – Water No Get Enemy Nigeria | 1975 | Classic Afrobeat from a member of world music royalty

29) Ciara – Body Party Atlanta, Georgia | 2013 | I found myself inexplicably drawn to this classic pop tune. Solange for 2013?

30) James Vincent McMorrow – Cavalier Dublin, Ireland | 2013 | Smouldering yet earthy

I also added a YouTube playlist here so you can listen to all 30 in row. Do let me know what you think…

/RjK

RjK Wedding Party Playlist

So a friend asked me to put together a playlist for his wedding party of Saturday. This task was one part fun, one part daunting.
The motif I went for was a raucous Trawl Through the Ages / Late 90’s School Disco / Early 2000’s University Night Out.
See the playlist below and do let me know what you think:

Wedding Playlist 28/12/2013

Opening
Talking Heads – Once in a Lifetime
Curtis Mayfield – Move On Up

1960’s
Stevie Wonder – Signed, Sealed, Delivered…
Jackie Wilson – Higher and higher
Fontella Bass – Rescue Me
The Beach Boys – Barbara Ann
Sam and Dave – I’m a soul man
Creedance Clearwater Revival – Bad Moon Rising
Dion and The Belmonts – Runaround Sue
Martha Reeves and The Vandellas – Heatwave
Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell – Ain’t no mountain high enough
Aretha Franklin – Respect

1970’s
Lynyrd Skynard – Sweet home Alabama
Maxine Nightingale – Right back where we started from
Bee Gees – Stayin Alive
Fleetwood Mac – Dreams
Jackson Five – ABC
Gloria Gaynor – I will survive
The Emotions – Best of my love
Prince – I wanna be your lover

1980’s
The Smiths – This Charming Man
Tears for Fears – Everybody wants to rule the world
Madonna – Holiday
The Police – Roxanne
Phil Collins – Easy Lover
Michael Jackson – Beat It
Cyndi Lauper – Girls just wanna have fun
Queen – Don’t Stop Me Now
Van Halen – Jump
Irene Cara – Fame
Blondie – Hanging on the telephone
The Jam – A town called Malice
Paul Simon – You can call me Al
Wham! – Wake me up before you go go
David Bowie – Modern Love

1990’s
Mark Morrison – Return of the Mack
Bran Van 3000 – Drinking in LA
The Source Featuring Candi Staton – You’ve got the love
Cornershop – Brimful of Asha (Fatboy Slim mix)
The White Stripes – Fell in love with a girl
Dropkick Murphys – Irish Drinking Song
Third Eye Blind – Semi Charmed Life
Kylie Minogue – Spinning Around
Destiny’s Child – Say my name
R.Kelly – Bump’n’Grind
Take That – Relight My Fire
Spice Girls – Wannabe
Hanson – MMMBop
Pulp – Common People
Oasis – Don’t look back in anger
Stereophonics – Pick a part that’s new
Amerie – One Thing
New Radicals – You get what you give

2000’s/Current
Outkast – Hey Ya
The Futureheads – Hounds of love
Alphabeat – Fascination
MGMT – Electric Feel
Jai Paul – BTSTU
Franz Ferdinand – Take Me Out
Solange – I decided
Kanye West – Touch the sky
Los Campesinos – You! Me! Dancing!
Beyonce – Crazy in love
Eve and Gwen Stephani – Let me blow ya mind
Rihanna – Umbrella
Kelis Millionaire – Millionaire
Daft Punk – Get lucky
Amy Winehouse – Valerie
Hot Chip – Over and Over
Fatboy Slim – Praise You
Doves – Black and White Town
The Killers – Mr.Brightside
Arctic Monkeys – I bet you look good on the dancefloor
The Libertines – Don’t look back into the sun
The Strokes – Last Nite
M83 – Midnight City

Finale
Village People – YMCA
Grease – Megamix
The Isley Brothers – Shout (Parts 1 and 2)
The Hues Corporation – Rock the boat
Survivor – Eye of the tiger
Bon Jovi – Living on a prayer
Journey – Don’t stop believing

/RjK

Top 30 of 2012

As ever for me, it is a mixed list. Some old, some new and some things that I both discovered and re-discovered in 2012. I hope you enjoy it. Let me know if you had any big tunes in 2012 that I missed.

Top 30 of 2012

1) Moodymann – Why do U feel?: Based: Detroit, MN Released: 2012 In a nutshell: Smooth and mesmerising

2) Sun Araw, M. Geddes Gengras and The Congos – Happy Song: Austin, Los Angeles and Jamica | 2012 | Music from a different planet

3) Sorie Kondie – Without money, no family: Makeni, Sierra Leone | 2006 | Pure and timeless

4) Gerry Read – 90’s Prostitution Racket: London, UK | 2012 | A dark re-imagination of an 80’s classic

5) Jai Paul – Jasmine: London, UK | 2012 | A DJ who favours quality over quantity

6) Dark city sisters – Sekusile: Johannesburg, SA | ? (60’s I think) | Classic, languid African sound

7) TV Girl – Lizzy come back to life: San Diego, CA | 2012 | Hyperactive and insistent; It makes me want to move

8) Kendrick Lamar – Bitch, don’t kill my vibe: Compton, CA | 2012 | One of several artists to reignite my love of Hip Hop this year

9) Japandroids – Younger Us: Vancouver, Canada | 2012 | Vigorous! Still one of my favourite band names ever

10) Real Estate – Out of tune: Ridgewood, NJ | 2011 | Sunny, washed out vibes

11) Grouper – Alien Observer: Portland, OR | 2011 | A distinctive and fragile ambient sound

12) Shabazz Palaces – Recollections of the wraith: Seattle, WA | 2011 | Amazing beat, playful lyrics

13) Oddisee – The carter baron: Washington, DC | 2011 | Flawless use of a Curtis Mayfield sample

14) Craft Spells – Still left with me: Stockton, CA | 2012 | Pop perfection

15) Kate Bush – A coral room: London, UK | 2005 | Kate at her finest

16) Another’s Blood – Foreign Nights (Jewellers remix): London, UK | 2012 | A delight arrived at mysteriously from the far expanses of the Internet

17) Tennis – Origins: Denver, CO | 2011 | Hazy; Sounds like a summer’s afternoon

18) LOL Boys – Changes: Montreal, Canada | 2012 | A kaleidoscope of sounds

19) Hygher Baby – Let U go (DJ Asparagus Remix): Stockholm, Sweden | 2011 | Smooth, classic R’n’B sound

20) MC Solaar – Les Temps Changent: Paris, France | 1997 | A strong hook matters more than knowing what lyrics mean

21) Lamont Dozier – Why can’t we be lovers?: Detroit, MN | 1972 | Classic soul from Motown Royalty

22) Jaques Greene – Another Girl: Montreal, Canada | 2011 | Arresting, electronic and more than a little hypnotic

23) Van Morrison – Rave on John Donne/Rave on part two: Belfast, Northern Ireland | 1984 | An all time favourite; Builds from a meandering beginning to a soaring crescendo

24) Solange – Losing You: Houston, TX | 2012 | A guilty pleasure wrapped in a clever video

25) Octo Octa – Memories: Brooklyn, NY | 2012 | Urgent and magnetic

26) Terry Callier – Sail Away: Chicago, IL | ? (1998 I think) | Tribute to the late great TC who passed away this year

27) Eve and Gwen Stefani – Let me blow ya mind: Philadelphia, PA and Fullerton, CA | 2001 | An antidote for a swagger deficiency

28) Local Natives – Breakers: Los Angeles, CA | 2012 | HC: “Soaring melodies and inventive percussion…“

29) Paula Cole – Where have all the cowboys gone?: Rockport, MA | 1997 | Oh the memories!

30) Kindness – House: London, UK | 2012 | Euphoric

I also added a YouTube playlist here so you can listen to all 30 in row. Do let me know what you think.
/RjK

2012 – The long list

Thanks for sticking with me this year, and for all the inspiration along the way. I am again fairly pleased with what I have achieved.

I thought you might be interested to see a list of the songs featured in 2012. Some I look back on with a touch of embarrassment but mostly I wouldn’t change any of them:

1-Jan-2012 Kate Bush A coral room
2-Jan-2012 David Bowie Young Americans
3-Jan-2012 Talking Heads This must be the place
4-Jan-2012 Grouper Alien Observer
5-Jan-2012 Jay Electronica Mind Detect Heart
6-Jan-2012 R Kelly Bump N Grind
7-Jan-2012 The Antlers Hounds
8-Jan-2012 Oddisee The carter baron
9-Jan-2012 Aretha Franklin (Sweet sweet baby) Since you’ve been gone
10-Jan-2012 The Knife Heartbeats
11-Jan-2012 Martha and The Vandellas Jimmy Mack
12-Jan-2012 Dark city sisters Sekusile
13-Jan-2012 Phil Collins Easy lover
14-Jan-2012 Richard Ashcroft Music is power
15-Jan-2012 Liquid Liquid Cavern
16-Jan-2012 Paul Simon The cool, cool river
17-Jan-2012 Joy Denalane Changes
18-Jan-2012 Marvin Gaye Mercy, Mercy Me
19-Jan-2012 Octo Octa Memories
20-Jan-2012 Asia Heat of the moment
21-Jan-2012 Etta James At last
22-Jan-2012 Air All I need
23-Jan-2012 The Drums I need fun in my life
24-Jan-2012 Teena Marie Square Biz
25-Jan-2012 The Blue Nile Heatwave
26-Jan-2012 Moodymann The thief that stole my sad days..Ya blessin’ me
27-Jan-2012 Janet Jackson All for you
28-Jan-2012 Brooks and Jerry I got what it takes
29-Jan-2012 My bloody valentine Lose my breath
30-Jan-2012 Cherokee Take care of you
31-Jan-2012 Kanye West Good morning
1-Feb-2012 Van Morrison Rave on John Donne/Rave on part two
2-Feb-2012 Thomas Mapfumo Shumba
3-Feb-2012 Paula Cole Where have all the cowboys gone?
4-Feb-2012 Youth Lagoon Posters
5-Feb-2012 Sigur Ros Samskeyti
6-Feb-2012 Elvis Costello Watching the detectives
7-Feb-2012 Betty Wright Clean up woman
8-Feb-2012 Josh Rouse Winter in The Hamptons
9-Feb-2012 Hypnotic Brass Ensemble Black Boy
10-Feb-2012 Whitney Houston I wanna dance with somebody
11-Feb-2012 Chic Everybody dance
12-Feb-2012 Whitney Houston Saving all my love for you
13-Feb-2012 Moby In my heart
14-Feb-2012 The Family Nothing compares 2 U
15-Feb-2012 Tennis Origins
16-Feb-2012 MNDR I go away
17-Feb-2012 Beyonce Crazy in love
18-Feb-2012 Lamont Dozier Why can’t we be lovers?
19-Feb-2012 Four Tet Angel Echoes
20-Feb-2012 Roc Marciano Hide my tears
21-Feb-2012 TunE-yArDs Killa
22-Feb-2012 Sharon Van Etten Give Out
23-Feb-2012 Another’s Blood Foreign Nights
24-Feb-2012 The Housemartins Happy Hour Again
25-Feb-2012 Doves Snowden
26-Feb-2012 Slowdive Souvlaki space station
27-Feb-2012 Field Music A new town
28-Feb-2012 The Temptations Ain’t too proud to beg
29-Feb-2012 Neil Young The needle and the damage done
1-Mar-2012 Funeral Suits All those friendly people
2-Mar-2012 TLC No Scrubs
3-Mar-2012 College A real hero
4-Mar-2012 A whisper in the noise Black Shroud
5-Mar-2012 Diana Ross Ain’t no mountain high enough
6-Mar-2012 Shabazz Palaces Swerve
7-Mar-2012 The Beach Boys Darlin’
8-Mar-2012 Peasant The Flask
9-Mar-2012 Bucketheads The Bomb
10-Mar-2012 Real Estate Dumb Luck
11-Mar-2012 Fat Freddy’s drop Boondigga
12-Mar-2012 Action Bronson Imported Goods
13-Mar-2012 Mayer Hawthorne Just ain’t gonna work out
14-Mar-2012 Ash Goldfinger
15-Mar-2012 Hint Aliens Enter
16-Mar-2012 Bran Van 3000 Drinking in LA
17-Mar-2012 Thin Lizzy Dancing in the moonlight
18-Mar-2012 The O’Jays This time baby
19-Mar-2012 Japandroids Younger Us
20-Mar-2012 Kindness House
21-Mar-2012 Steely Dan Deacon Blues
22-Mar-2012 Craft Spell Still left with me
23-Mar-2012 Shola Ama You might need somebody
24-Mar-2012 Jamie Lidell Another day
25-Mar-2012 Sunshine Anderson Heard it all before
26-Mar-2012 Gregory Porter Illusion
27-Mar-2012 Bobby Womack Please forgive my heart
28-Mar-2012 Fleetwood Mac Gypsy
29-Mar-2012 Jaques Greene Another Girl
30-Mar-2012 Diddy – Dirty Money Ass on the floor
31-Mar-2012 Stevie Wonder For once in my life
1-Apr-2012 R.E.M. Electrolite
2-Apr-2012 Erykah Badu Window Seat
3-Apr-2012 Clipse Nightmares
4-Apr-2012 The spinners It’s a shame
5-Apr-2012 EMA California
6-Apr-2012 Bee Gees Staying Alive
7-Apr-2012 Vondelpark HipBone
8-Apr-2012 Bruce Springsteen Streets of fire
9-Apr-2012 Common and Slum Village Thelonious
10-Apr-2012 Jeff Buckley Lover, you should’ve come over
11-Apr-2012 Vampire Weekend Oxford Comma
12-Apr-2012 Max Cooper Raw
13-Apr-2012 Wham! I’m your man
14-Apr-2012 Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes The love I lost
15-Apr-2012 Pete Rock and CL Smooth They reminisce over you
16-Apr-2012 Sun Araw and The Congos Happy Song
17-Apr-2012 Tommy James and the Sonells Crystal Blue Persuasion
18-Apr-2012 Napoleon I love my baby
19-Apr-2012 Me and my drummer Runner (reprise)
20-Apr-2012 Brandy and Monica The boy is mine
21-Apr-2012 Lambchop Up with people
22-Apr-2012 Blur Charmless Man
23-Apr-2012 Unlimited Four I wanna be happy
24-Apr-2012 Nneka Shining star
25-Apr-2012 Mary Wells Whisper you love me
26-Apr-2012 Quantic and Alice Russell Look around the corner
27-Apr-2012 Catatonia Road Rage
28-Apr-2012 Kansas Dust in the wind
29-Apr-2012 Stereophonics Local boy in the photograph
30-Apr-2012 Jay Electronica Dear Moleskin
1-May-2012 Sebastiean Tellier La Ritournelle
2-May-2012 Jai Paul Jasmine (demo)
3-May-2012 Francis Bebey New Track
4-May-2012 Cheryl Lynn Got to be real
5-May-2012 Beastie Boys Intergalactic
6-May-2012 Radiohead Lotus Flower
7-May-2012 Frankie Knuckles Your love
8-May-2012 Willis Earl Beale Evening’s Kiss
9-May-2012 Blu and Exile Blu Colla Worker
10-May-2012 Run DMT Spruce Bringsteen
11-May-2012 Aswad Don’t turn around
12-May-2012 Michael Jackson You rock my world
13-May-2012 Arthur Conley Sweet Soul Music
14-May-2012 When Saint go Machine Kelly
15-May-2012 Taj Mahal Satisfied ‘n’ tickled too
16-May-2012 CFCF Big Love
17-May-2012 TV Girl Lizzy come back to life
18-May-2012 The Doobie Brothers What a fool believes
19-May-2012 Donna Summer Dim all the lights
20-May-2012 Prefab Sprout King of rock ‘n’ roll
21-May-2012 Bee Gees Night Fever
22-May-2012 Daft Punk One more time
23-May-2012 Donny Hathaway Someday we’ll all be free
24-May-2012 Hygher Baby Let U go
25-May-2012 JX There’s nothing I won’t do
26-May-2012 Arrested Development Mr.Wendall
27-May-2012 The Young Rascals Groovin’
28-May-2012 The Versatones Bila
29-May-2012 Brendan Benson Metarie
30-May-2012 Jet Life 1st Place
31-May-2012 Gerry Read 90’s Prostitution Racket
1-Jun-2012 Kylie Minogue Spinning Around
2-Jun-2012 Dean Blunt and Inga Copeland 2
3-Jun-2012 Foy Vance Gabriel and the vagabond
4-Jun-2012 The Sex Pistols God save The Queen
5-Jun-2012 Oddisee Paralyzed
6-Jun-2012 Washed Out You and I
7-Jun-2012 Chet Faker Terms and conditions
8-Jun-2012 The Farm All together now
9-Jun-2012 Little Richard Long tall Sally
10-Jun-2012 Blur Country House
11-Jun-2012 David Bowie Oh you pretty things
12-Jun-2012 Paul Buchanan Thin Air
13-Jun-2012 Skinnyman Hayden
14-Jun-2012 La Makina del Karibe Radio Gozambike
15-Jun-2012 Nelly Furtado I’m like a bird
16-Jun-2012 Kim Weston Helpless
17-Jun-2012 Nick Cave and PJ Harvey Henry Lee
18-Jun-2012 The Beatles Here, there and everywhere
19-Jun-2012 Chatham County Line Country boy, city boy
20-Jun-2012 The Waterboys Sweet Thing
21-Jun-2012 Rudimental Spoon
22-Jun-2012 Todd Rundgren Can we still be friends
23-Jun-2012 The Futureheads Beeswing
24-Jun-2012 Youssou N’Dour Seven Seconds
25-Jun-2012 Miike Snow Devil’s Work
26-Jun-2012 MC Solaar Les Temps Changent
27-Jun-2012 William De Vaughn Be thankful for what you’ve got
28-Jun-2012 Grimes Genesis
29-Jun-2012 Dr.Buzzard’s Original Savannah Band Sunshower
30-Jun-2012 Peter, Bjorn and John Let’s call it off (girl talk remix)
1-Jul-2012 T.E.E.D. Garden
2-Jul-2012 Alabama Shakes Hold On
3-Jul-2012 Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars Mother in law
4-Jul-2012 Lauryn Hill Doo Wop (that thing)
5-Jul-2012 Kotki Dwa Poison
6-Jul-2012 Damien Marley The master has come back
7-Jul-2012 The Coup ShoYoAss
8-Jul-2012 M83 featuring Zola Jesus Intro
9-Jul-2012 Vatican Shadow Bin Laden’s Corpse
10-Jul-2012 Arcade Fire The Suburbs
11-Jul-2012 The temper trap Fader
12-Jul-2012 Orange Juice Rip it up
13-Jul-2012 Heatwave Boogie Nights
14-Jul-2012 The Falcons You’re so fine
15-Jul-2012 The Blue Nile Tinseltown in the rain
16-Jul-2012 Seal Crazy
17-Jul-2012 KiNK feat. Rachel Row Hand made
18-Jul-2012 Abyssinia Infinite Gole
19-Jul-2012 Alexander Holland Best of me
20-Jul-2012 Eve and Gwen Stefani Let me blow ya mind
21-Jul-2012 KRS-One MC’s act like they don’t know
22-Jul-2012 Glen Campbell Wichita Lineman
23-Jul-2012 Luke Million Arnold
24-Jul-2012 The Supremes Stoned Love
25-Jul-2012 The xx Angels
26-Jul-2012 The Drum /SYS
27-Jul-2012 N-Trance Set U free
28-Jul-2012 Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings Nobody’s baby
29-Jul-2012 The Drums How it ended
30-Jul-2012 Nas Memory Lane (sittin’ in da park)
31-Jul-2012 Passion Pit Little Secrets
1-Aug-2012 The Specials Message to you Rudy
2-Aug-2012 LOL Boys Changes
3-Aug-2012 Spandau Ballet Gold
4-Aug-2012 De la soul Oooh
5-Aug-2012 Darwin Deez DNA
6-Aug-2012 Outkast Da art of storytellin’
7-Aug-2012 Oasis Don’t look back in anger
8-Aug-2012 DJ/Rupture Minesweeper suite track 1
9-Aug-2012 Shlohmo The way U do
10-Aug-2012 Ashanti Foolish
11-Aug-2012 Sam Cooke and The Soul Stirrers Jesus gave me water
12-Aug-2012 David Bowie Heroes
13-Aug-2012 Fatboy Slim Praise You
14-Aug-2012 The Flaming Lips Yoshimi battles the Pink Robots
15-Aug-2012 Nicole Willis and The Soul Investigators My four leafed clover
16-Aug-2012 Aesop Rock Odessa
17-Aug-2012 Frankie goes to Hollywood Relax
18-Aug-2012 Aretha Franklin I say a little prayer
19-Aug-2012 Radiohead There there
20-Aug-2012 Cat Power Cherokee (Nicolas Jaar Remix)
21-Aug-2012 Moodymann Why do U feel?
22-Aug-2012 Lee Fields and The Expressions Wish you were here
23-Aug-2012 Twin Shadow Five Seconds
24-Aug-2012 Color me badd I wanna sex you up
25-Aug-2012 The Beach Boys Barbra Ann
26-Aug-2012 Dion Runaround Sue
27-Aug-2012 T Rex Cosmic Dancer
28-Aug-2012 Sam and Dave I thank you
29-Aug-2012 Four Tops I can’t help myself
30-Aug-2012 Janka Nebay and the Bubu Gang Feba
31-Aug-2012 Dr.Hook When you’re in love with a beautiful woman
1-Sep-2012 Nas Testify
2-Sep-2012 Curtis Mayfield Power to the people
3-Sep-2012 Real Estate Out of tune
4-Sep-2012 Chairlift Planet Health
5-Sep-2012 Chuck Berry Maybelline
6-Sep-2012 New Navy Zimbabwe
7-Sep-2012 Brownstone If you love me
8-Sep-2012 Tindersticks I know that loving
9-Sep-2012 Old Belle Canary Jane
10-Sep-2012 Shlohmo Rained the whole time
11-Sep-2012 Bruce Springsteen Born to run
12-Sep-2012 Talking Heads Road to nowhere
13-Sep-2012 DL Incognito Universal Love
14-Sep-2012 Third eye blind Semi-Charmed life
15-Sep-2012 Van Morrison You know what they’re writing about
16-Sep-2012 Lucky Soul Struck Dumb
17-Sep-2012 The Velvelettes Needle in a haystack
18-Sep-2012 Modest Mouse Float On
19-Sep-2012 Robbie Robertson Somewhere down the crazy river
20-Sep-2012 LV featuring Spoek Mathambo Work
21-Sep-2012 Jean Carne We got some catching up to do
22-Sep-2012 The Silver Seas The best things in life
23-Sep-2012 De la soul Breakadawn
24-Sep-2012 The O’Jays Miracles
25-Sep-2012 Phantogram When I’m small
26-Sep-2012 The Pretenders Don’t get me wrong
27-Sep-2012 Tinariwen Tenere Taqqim Tossam
28-Sep-2012 Dropkick Murphys Drink and fight
29-Sep-2012 The Police Every little thing she does is magic
30-Sep-2012 Bob Marley I shot the sheriff
1-Oct-2012 LCD Soundsystem Someone great
2-Oct-2012 Barbara Lynn This is the thanks I get
3-Oct-2012 Common/Kanye West The Food
4-Oct-2012 Chaweewan Dumnern Lam Toey Chaweewan
5-Oct-2012 Hall and Oates Sara Smile
6-Oct-2012 Aretha Franklin Call Me
7-Oct-2012 Broken Social Scene Bandwitch
8-Oct-2012 Beth Orton She cries your name
9-Oct-2012 Elliot Smith Son of Sam
10-Oct-2012 Bjork Play Dead
11-Oct-2012 Tame Impala Feels like we only go backwards
12-Oct-2012 Salt-n-Pepa Whatta Man
13-Oct-2012 Burial and Four Tet Ego
14-Oct-2012 Nina Simone Mr.Bojangles
15-Oct-2012 Lovebug Starski Say what you want to say
16-Oct-2012 Boz Scaggs Miss Riddle
17-Oct-2012 Anthony and The Johnsons Fistful of love
18-Oct-2012 Sorie Kondie Without money, no family
19-Oct-2012 Earth, Wind and Fire That’s the way of the world
20-Oct-2012 The Jackson Five I want you back
21-Oct-2012 Aphex Twin Alberto Balsam
22-Oct-2012 David McWilliams Days of Pearly Spencer
23-Oct-2012 Solange Losing You
24-Oct-2012 Marvin Gaye Can I get a Witness?
25-Oct-2012 Ombre Weight those words
26-Oct-2012 Huey Lewis and The News The power of love
27-Oct-2012 Feist Past in present
28-Oct-2012 The staple singers Let’s do it again
29-Oct-2012 Neil Young Heart of gold
30-Oct-2012 Terry Callier Sail Away
31-Oct-2012 Arcade Fire Headlights look like diamonds
1-Nov-2012 Altar Eagle Breakdown
2-Nov-2012 Royce Da 5″9 Boom!
3-Nov-2012 Ella Fitzgerald Love is here to stay
4-Nov-2012 Benoit and Sergio New Ships
5-Nov-2012 Jaques Brel Jacky
6-Nov-2012 Bobby Womack Nobody wants you when you’re down and out
7-Nov-2012 Gift of Gab Way of the light
8-Nov-2012 LA Vampires and Maria Minerva A lover and an friend
9-Nov-2012 Michael Jackson Man in the mirror (Hed Kandi mix)
10-Nov-2012 Rhye Open
11-Nov-2012 Kate Bush Running up that hill
12-Nov-2012 Todd Terje Inspector Norse
13-Nov-2012 Child rebel soldiers US placers
14-Nov-2012 Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti Baby
15-Nov-2012 Homeboy Sandman Whatchu want from me?
16-Nov-2012 Nelly Furtado Do it
17-Nov-2012 Yeah Yeah Yeah’s Maps
18-Nov-2012 Mott the Hoople All the young dudes
19-Nov-2012 Mark Farina Dream Machine
20-Nov-2012 Sly and The Family Stone Can’t strain my brain
21-Nov-2012 Broken Social Scene Sweetest kill
22-Nov-2012 Werhka Le Roitelet
23-Nov-2012 Dee Lite Groove is in the heart
24-Nov-2012 Mylo Sunworshipper
25-Nov-2012 Haim Forever
26-Nov-2012 Neutral Milk Hotel Two-Headed Boy
27-Nov-2012 The Walker Brothers The sun ain’t gonna shine any more
28-Nov-2012 The Supremes Love is like an itching in my heart
29-Nov-2012 FaltyDL Straight and Arrow
30-Nov-2012 Neneh Cherry Buffalo Stance
1-Dec-2012 Kendrick Lamar Bitch, don’t kill my vibe
2-Dec-2012 Laura Nyro Mother’s Spiritual
3-Dec-2012 Unknown Mortal Orchestra How can U luv me?
4-Dec-2012 Sam Cooke and The Soul Stirrers Peace in the valley
5-Dec-2012 Rick James Mary Jane
6-Dec-2012 Alt-J Tesselate
7-Dec-2012 Naughty by nature Hip hop hooray
8-Dec-2012 The Tams Be young, be foolish, be happy
9-Dec-2012 Lafayette Afro Rock Band Hihache
10-Dec-2012 Best Coast When I’m with you
11-Dec-2012 The Dynamics Yes, I love you baby
12-Dec-2012 Van Morrison Domino
13-Dec-2012 Local Natives Breakers
14-Dec-2012 Sister Sledge He’s the greatest dancer
15-Dec-2012 Oddisee Beach Dr.
16-Dec-2012 The New Radicals You get what you give
17-Dec-2012 Shabazz Palaces Recollections of the wraith
18-Dec-2012 Ian Dury and The Blockheads Hit me with you rhythm stick
19-Dec-2012 Belouis Some Imagination (Mr Rossi false opposition edit)
20-Dec-2012 Twigs Breath
21-Dec-2012 Will Smith Getting’s Jiggy wit’ it
22-Dec-2012 Joy Orbison Ellipsis
23-Dec-2012 James Brown It’s a mans, mans, mans world
24-Dec-2012 FIDLAR West Coast
25-Dec-2012 The Ronettes Sleigh Bells
26-Dec-2012 Kooley High David Thompson
27-Dec-2012 John Talabot When the past was present
28-Dec-2012 Gene Kelly Singin’ in the rain
29-Dec-2012 Fontella Bass Hold on this time
30-Dec-2012 Haim Don’t save me
31-Dec-2012 Jay-Z and Kanye West Otis

/RjK

Youtube playlists…

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

2012 so far…

As we reach the mid point of the year I have been thinking about the musical highlights of my year so far. As always my thoughts are divergent and shambolic but I have tried to marshal them together into 15 tracks and artist that have particularly moved me. I hope you like them and feel free to suggest some of your own:

Gerry Read – 90’s prostitution racket

The Congos and Sun Araw – Happy Song

Japandroids – Younger Us

Craft Spells – Still left with me

Lamont Dozier – Why can’t we be lovers

Jai Paul – Jasmine (Demo)

Oddisee – Paralyzed

Shabazz Palaces – Swerve

Action Bronson – Imported Goods

TV Girl – Lizzy come back to life

Jet Life – 1st Place

Hygher Baby – Let U go

Jacques Greene – Another girl

Octo Octa – Memories

Francis Bebey – New Track

RjK

Ten Freshest Artists of the journey so far…

To mark posting artist number 400 I thought I would highlight 10 that I thought particularly fresh.

What does fresh mean? The first time I hear them they made my heart race, my pupils dilate, my nostrils flare and made me forget I had ever heard any music before that very second. It also means that they made me want to spread the good word.

Here are 10 such artists, specifically ones I have encountered in my 15 meandering months of blogging in no particular order:

Nguuni Lover’s Lovers

Darondo

Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti

M83

Jóhann Jóhannsson

tUnE-yArDs

Fox the fox

Shabazz Palaces

Hypnotic Brass Ensemble

Oddisee

Thanks for sticking with me and thanks for the encouragement and inspiration along the way. Feel free to highlight any other bands that have excited you.

Here’s to the next 400…

RjK

7 Big (re)discoveries of 2011

1) Radio – Rediscovered the simple joy of listening to the radio, predominately over the interned. Particularly WFMU, thanks to a good tip from my buddy. In particular Mudd Up! and Downtown Soulville. Also 6music and Tom Ravenscroft and the 6mix. Both are a treasure trove of good music.

2) World Music fascinates me – This was a big surprise. It started when I revisited Rhythm of the saints and was staggered by it and continued through the rest of the year. I would never have imagined how much pleasure I would find in Malian music.

3) I like Electronica a lot more than I realised – For a good portion of the year I had posted more Electronica than soul, which was a big surprise.

4) Blogs and blogging – This blog obviously. It was a good cultural outlet for me and I liked the discipline of posting once a day. But I also enjoyed reading other blogs like The sartorialist, Awesome tapes from Africa. Also, I finally “got” Twitter.

5) I feel fatigued reading about the “crisis in the eurozone” – One more article about the Greek economy and I might throw up (boke).

6) Blueberries – The fact that they are utterly delicious had somehow escaped my notice before last year.

7) Mad Men – Don Draper? What a beast.RjK

Top 30 of 2011

As promised, I have put together my favourite 30 songs in (rough) order. It was quite challenging to do it and I would probably make a different list tomorrow but it is a good reflection of the music that moved me most last year.

As ever for me it is a mixed list. Some old and new and some things that I discovered and re-discovered in 2011. Let me know what your big tunes of 2011 were.

1) Jai Paul – BTSTU – Based: London. Released: 2010. In a word: Hypnotic.

2) Nguuni Lovers Lovers – Christmas Kitui – Kenya. ?. Joyous.

3) M83 – Midnight City – France. 2011. Urgent.

4) Jóhann Jóhannsson – The Cause Of Labour Is The Hope Of The World – Iceland. 2011. Substantial.

5) tUne yArDs – Bizness – New England. 2011. Vivid.

6) Fox the fox – Precious little diamonds – Holland. 1984. Kitschy.

7) Paul Simon – Spirit Voices – New York. 1990. Dreamlike.

8) Arthur Russell – This is how we walk on the moon – New York. 1994. Otherworldly.

9) Phantogram- Don’t move – New York. 2011. Adroit.

10) Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Ffunny Frends – Portland, Oregon. 2011. Incessant.

11) Darondo – Didn’t I? – San Francisco. 1973. Bold.

12) Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – Round and round – Los Angeles. 2010. Raffish.