Happy New Year!

[I know this is early but I don't know if I'll get internet on the 1st... plus what's the harm in experiencing some early NYE cheer! :)]



I get the feeling this year will be interesting... this song seems particularly appropriate right now.
Yeasayer - 2080

'With scarves of red tied round their throats'

I'm heading to Canada for the next week so expect a slowdown of posts...

Glittering pistes await me!

Fleet Foxes - White Winter Hymnal

Noah and the Whale

Noah and the Whale are simultaneously the type of band I really want to hate and really want to love.

They're ridiculously twee, very cutesy, popular enough that it doesn't require much effort to discover them or to become a fan, but indie enough that all the cool kids like them. They're the kind of band people namecheck to look like they're into music, but that are charting in the top 10, and everyone knows them.

But then their music is insistently catchy, touchingly earnest, and very well-written. It's ridiculously easy music to listen to, which may sound like faint praise, but it is, to be honest, something of an underrated skill - these are songs that, without even trying, get under your skin and into your head. Plus, they have Laura Marling on some songs, and she nearly always makes a song better just by being there (see the Mystery Jets for further reference).

But despite all that I can't love them, for all the reasons above!

I can however, heartily recommend their album, Peaceful, The World Lays Me Down. Hopefully you can resolve this dilemma!

Festive Frivolities - the grand finale.

The Twelve Songs of Christmas are completed.

Alternative: Otis Redding, White Christmas
Traditional: Bing Crosby, White Christmas

Have yourself a merry little Christmas!

Festive Frivolities numero 4 & 5

(Sorry for the break there - last minute Christmas preparations became a little too intense. Here's a double whammy to make up for it.)

Alternative Tracks:
1. Ron Sexsmith - Maybe This Christmas
Really simple, sweet, genuine little Christmas song. A little bit wistful, which can be how I end up feeling at this time of year. All I know about Ron Sexsmith is that he was touted as the next Robbie Williams at one point in his career - not a fantastic omen admittedly, but, still this sincere song is a must for a Christmas playlist. Plus there's bells in it!

2. Low - Just Like Christmas
I think Low actually released a whole album/EP of Christmas tracks, but this is the only one I know from it, and I think due to it being featured on The O.C. and other such suitably indie soundtracks it's the best known of the album. More bells here (always good for a Christmas song), and a similiarly sweet, wistful wintry feel. Good to escape to listen to when the presents/relatives/food combo becomes a bit much.

Traditional tracks:

1. Beach Boys - Little Saint Nick
Again, not necessarily all that traditional, but very seasonal, Little Saint Nick is Christmas, 'surfer' style ('surfer' in inverted commas because only one of the Beach Boys actaully surfed, but you get my point). Really fun, I reckon this is a good song to groove around the kitchen to do whilst doing the turkey.

2. The Ronettes - Sleigh Ride [youtube]
The Phil Spector Christmas canon is rather impressive, and I couldn't exactly make a Christmas compliation without including at least one. The Ronettes' version of Sleigh Ride is, in my book, the definitive one, with bells and horse-hoof noises to boot. It's frothy and just doesn't take itself too seriously, exactly what is needed at this time of year. Although, let me tell you, sleigh rides aren't half as fun as they're made out to be here...

Festive Frivolities - part III

Alternative Track of the Day: Joni Mitchell, River

Not exactly cheery music, but sometimes appropriate for a time of a year when there are so many expectations that can't always be met. Mitchell's album Blue is an absolute classic, but River definitely has something special about it.


Traditional Track of the Day: John & Yoko, Happy Xmas (War is Over)

Perhaps traditional is the wrong word when talking about this track - nevertheless, Happy Xmas is a much-loved fixture in my house at Christmas, I grew up with it at Christmas. It's pretty much perfect in my mind - a commercial-free Christmas, capturing all the good things about Christmas, and none of the bad.

Festive Frivolities cont.

Alternative track: Grand Archives, Sleepdriving
OK, so not technically a Holiday/Christmas track, but I got this track off a holiday compliation CD free with SF based artsy magazine, ReadyMade, which is the kind of magazine that I wish I was cool and arty enough to read, but I'm not. The CD was excellent and this track is particular is very good. It perfectly captures that hazy feeling you get when you've been driving/travelling too long, but when you know that the place you're going to is worth it.

Traditional track: Chris Rea, Driving Home for Christmas
This is the traditional version of the track above. The key to this track is the line: 'I take a look at the driver next to me/he's just the same' - it's not the actual experience of driving but the feeling of unity, of a common experience that drives (pun unintended) this song.

Festive Frivolities

Christmas is approaching (who knew?) and with that, it seems appropriate to put some festive music up. While there has traditionally been Twelve Days of Christmas, now there are Twelve Tunes of Christmas.

I love Christmas - and I love Christmas music. My tastes tend to fall distinctly into two categories: alternative Christmas cuts, of the ilk of my usual music tastes, but with a holiday flavour, and traditional, well-loved Christmas classics that I grew up with and continue to love. Therefore I intend to post two tracks a day up til Christmas: one alternative, and one traditional.

Today's alternative track: Sufjan Stevens, Put the Lights on the Tree

I don't know of a better Holiday album than Sufjan Stevens' 5 EP Collection, Songs for the Christmas. In parts childishly excited, in others quietly tender, in still others full of joy, it makes Christmas better by just existing. Put the Lights on the Tree is maybe the best track - 1min 48s of sheer excitement and joy.

Today's traditional track: Dean Martin, Let it Snow!

An absolute classic, recycled and reused every Christmas, yet somehow it seems to avoid cliche. Let it Snow! is snuggly and exciting and it just ain't Christmas without it.

Florence and the Machine

You Got the Love
Recently featured on MTV's 'M is for Music' adverts, Florence's outstanding voice grabs you instantly on this extraordinary cover (the B side to her new single, Dog Days Are Over). It seems strange that Florence only allows her vocal talents to shine on her cover versions (see the breathtaking Hospital Beds for further reference) - you almost can't help but wonder if she's afraid that her voice will outshine her songwriting abilities. Or perhaps its only that by contrasting her voice against the either Candi Station of the Source or Cold War Kids' Nathan Willett that the sheer skill, power, and strangeness it of really comes to light. I'm really excited to see what new material Florence will give us in the new year - here's hoping she'll write a song that demonstrates her voice rather than looking to other peoples to do it for her.

The MTV advert that first brought this track to my attention is nowhere to be seen on youtube or anywhere else, but here is Florence and the Machine doing it live at Bestival this year (admittedly this live version is a bit patchier than the recorded one!)

How bloody cool is she?!

And perhaps further proof as to my cover version theory, I just stumbled across her doing Kelly Clarkson's Since You've Been Gone with Mark Ronson on youtube. That voice is nothing if not powerful.


Sorry for the week-long hiatus by the way - that was one of the weeks without internet that I mentioned earlier...

Seasonal treats coming soon!

2008 - what a blast.

So a little sooner than expected, here is my top 20 of everything musicky for 2008, including albums, singles, EPs, and videos, because really, it's all one and the same thing isn't it?

Let's not be fussy about dates now - some of these may have first surfaced light last year, but I won't tell if you don't...

Enjoy, debate, complain. It's up to you.

1. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago (Skinny Love)

Heart breaking, spell-binding, achingly beautiful, this album is sure to top many lists this year, and it tops mine. The star of the album is undoubtedly Skinny Love, but to focus on that one track is to lose sight of the album as a whole. How cohesive it is, and how well the tracks all fit together was, for me, the album's main strength.
2. Marlena Shaw – California Soul (Diplo Remix)
This track definitely had special resonance for me - I was at Berkeley for a year abroad until June this year, and picked up this track just as I was leaving - but I don't think you have to have been in California in order to appreciate this chilled out, blissful Summer song.
3. Florence & the Machine – Kiss with a Fist /Hospital Beds
I couldn’t decide between the A and the B side of this single, so I thought I’d include both. Kiss with a Fist is something of a jaunty little track, with a slightly worrying attitude towards domestic violence, but I feel it doesn’t convey the sheer power of Florence’s voice in the way that Hospital Beds does. This eerie cover of the Cold War Kids’ track is sure to divide people, but, in my opinion, it’s stunning.
4. Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend (M79)
Perhaps a little obvious as an album of the year? True, but, frankly, it’s a great listen. Yes, it combines African rhythms with an East Coast/Ivy League aesthetic in a way that might sound pretentious (I know that last sentence definitely did), and if you already feel that way, it’s unlikely that the baroque stylings of the sample track, M79 will change your mind. However, for me, the reason why this album made the list is that it’s just so damn enjoyable, plain and simple.
5. MGMT – Time to Pretend
Apparently the Brooklyn boys of MGMT wrote this as a joke while at college – little did they know it would become an anthem for wannabe rockstars everywhere. Both disconcerting and inspiring, Time to Pretend was my ringtone for a good two months. No higher praise than that.
6. Kings of Leon – Sex On Fire
You may have heard of this one. Kings of Leon have had a pretty impressive, and I have to say, a pretty surprising year, especially here in the UK. I don’t know of anyone who predicted the success of their fourth album, Only By The Night, but it certainly seems a long time ago that a hairy family band from the Bible Belt burst onto the scene with Molly’s Chambers. Sex On Fire has been inescapable this year, a little to the point of frustration, but for about two weeks in the Summer, it was heaven.
7. Justice – DVNO (video)
Justice, or Just-eece as the Francophiles among us like to say, are the Daft Punk of our era. DVNO, supposedly named in reference to a cheesy French club in Paris, is perhaps not the catchiest or the most epic cut from the album, but it is definitely one of the best to dance to. The video, directed by So Me, who also did Kanye’s Good Life video, and the awesome vid for Justice vs. Simian, Never Be Alone, is about the coolest thing to emanate from youtube.


8. Friendly Fires - Paris
Cowbell-tastic! Technically from last year, but recently re-released so it sneaks in. I almost put the video up... I almost put the album in... the Aeroplanes remix is also pretty good... but frankly I think this song is good enough to stand alone (even though the lyrics to the chorus remind me of Take That).
9. Ra Ra Riot - Oh, La
I don’t know much about Ra Ra Riot. I do know that I really like this song. I first heard it on the radio about 6 weeks ago on the night of the US Election. Something about the lyric ‘Some days our future/it seems to hang on so tight’ seemed particularly prescient that night, and the song has stayed with me ever since. I’m definitely going to investigate Ra Ra Riot once I have convinced myself that the rest of their material can match up to this song.
10. Black Kids – I’m Not Going To Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You (Twelves Remix)
So I guess technically this song is from last year. I’m trying to get away with putting it in under the auspices that the Twelves remix is from this year – at least that’s when I heard it certainly. The remix takes what was a pretty awesome song to begin with, totally flips it out and creates this ultimate party tune. The ‘Dance! Dance! Dance! Dance!’ refrain hits you, and you just can’t not. For interesting remixes/covers of this song, I would definitely recommend the Kate Nash version – but that definitely is from last year.
11. Mystery Jets (feat. Laura Marling) – Young Love (video)
Two words: utterly charming. This video and that song are perfect for each other.


12. TV On The Radio – Dear Science, ( Golden Age)
Their best album yet: clever, soulful, moving and danceable. The kind of music that Bowie wishes he was making now.
13. The BPA - Toe Jam (video)
How is this song not more known/appreciated? It’s got the legends that are Norman Cook, David Byrne and Dizzee Rascal making it, and it’s got one of the funniest, smartest videos of the year. Criminal.


14. Madonna (feat. Justin Timberlake) – 4 Minutes
"Oh, so it's not all indie”, I hear you say. While Madonna does sound like a backing singer on her own song, when it’s this good I’m sure she’s not complaining.
15. Juno – OST (Kimya Dawson - So Nice So Smart)
Some absolute classics in here, but surprisingly for a soundtrack, barely a dud. What’s more, it works well as an album as well as working for the film (which is excellent by the way).
16. Leona Lewis – Bleeding Love [youtube]
Ah, the spirit of Mariah Carey is reborn. Yes, it’s cheesy, but there’s something poignantly triumphant about the X-Factor winner’s song. Who’da thunk it?
17. The Hold Steady – Stay Positive (Magazines)
I still can’t decide if the whole album deserves to be in here – it’s a little samey to me. Having said that, I have a feeling that in five years it’ll be hailed a classic, and I’ll be doing the hailing.
18. Passion Pit – Sleepyhead
One of the freshest sounds I have heard in a while. If the original is a bit perky, try the Landau’s Wake Up Mix – the best morning after song.
19. Pharrell, Santogold and Julian Casablancas – My Drive Thru (video)
OK, so it was written for a Converse advert. The talent on this is diverse to say the least, and while it may not have reached its full potential, it’s still fun, and the video is just too cool for school.


20. Sam Sparro – Black & Gold
Spawning a million themed parties, Mr Sparro’s synth-bathed tune is an infectious delight. The best song George Michael never made.

That's all for now folks.

Start the Commotion

So I finally scratched the itch...

I've wanted to start a blog for quite some time, and finally got around to it. It's probably the worst time I could have picked - in the next 4 weeks, I'm likely to be without internet for about 2 and a half of them, but we'll see where this experiment takes us. I'm hoping to compile a 'Best of 2008 List' in the next couple of days (a startling original idea, I'm sure) to give you an idea of where I'm coming from.

But for now, it starts here.

Start the Commotion - Wiseguys