Here we go again….
First up, my current favorite song, from Lily Allen’s new album, It’s Not Me, It’s You, which is coming out next week. Originally, she posted this song on her MySpace page under the title “G.W.B.” — but for the album, she decided to go with the NSFW title of the refrain. I *love* this song — it’s adorable, biting and perfect. Lily Allen – “Fuck You.”
The UK fascination with retro revival continued this past summer, with the release of Sharleen Spiteri’s solo debut, Melody. The lead singer of the Scottish band Texas (best known over here for a few 90s alt-rock tracks) takes the neo-soul thing, winds the clock forward a few years to the big, lush sounds found in Nancy Sinatra and Dusty Springfield records, and absolutely nails it. Sharleen Spiteri – “All The Times I Cried.”
This song came up on my iPod the other day, and I thought about how it seemed appropriate for where the country is now. Especially the lyric: Guess who’s back in circulation? Now, I don’t know what you may have heard, but what we need right now is the original Goodtime Girl… The image of the country as a bad-ass chick doesn’t really fit with Bush’s era, does it… but now, she’s back! David Lee Roth – “Yankee Rose.”
More sounds from the UK – this time a remix of Blackpool-born electronica artist Little Boots by a couple of DJs (one from Brooklyn and one from L.A.): Little Boots – “Meddle (AC Slater and DJ Skeet Skeet remix, feat. Goldielocks).” (Copy and paste this link if you get an error)
As I’ve mentioned recently, I’ve been watching a lot of older UK TV. This is the damn-near Bondian theme from the 1966 “Avengers-esque” adventure series, Adam Adamant Lives!, which was about a Victorian adventurer frozen by his evil nemesis, and revived in the Mod London of 1966! Kathy Kirby – “Adam Adamant Lives!”
One of my favorite trip-hop tracks of all time, from DJ Krush’s 1997 album, MiLight. The fact that it’s from Krush, I suppose, means that it straddles the line between trip-hop and acid jazz, but regardless of the genre label, it’s good stuff. DJ Krush – “Skin Against Skin (feat. Deborah Anderson).”
Lastly, in tribute to the passing of Lux Interior, who died this week of a heart condition, I give you one of my favorite Cramps songs: The Cramps – “I Was A Teenage Werewolf.”
Enjoy.