Category: Music

Here we go:

I heard this song on LOGO last week, quickly fell in love with it, and did a bit of research. Turns out that the group is fronted by the son of Shriekback founder Barry Andrews. I find that amusing, given what I consider to be the very 80s-alternative sound of the group. The apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree, etc.: The Veils – “The Letter.” I need to hear more from this band.

A bunch of us were watching the BBC series Being Human (about a vampire, a werewolf and a ghost, trying to live normal lives and sharing a house together), when a song appeared, playing on a radio during a scene. My fellow viewers turned to the resident song-monkey and demanded to know what it was… and I had no idea! So, to recapture my honor, I did some digging. Turns out that the song is from 1988, and is one of those tracks that never really made it from the UK to hit big in the US (hence our unfamiliarity): Roachford – “Cuddly Toy.”

Speaking of the 80s, this should make a lot of readers feel particularly old: This month, SPIN magazine is celebrating the 25th anniversary of Purple Rain. Yeah, let that sink in. As part of the month’s coverage, there’s a free download on their website of a covers album, where various artists do tracks from the original. I wasn’t incredibly impressed, except for this one, which takes a staple of Prince’s early-80s sound and gives it a Soul makeover: Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings – “Take Me With U.”

Now, a genuine 80s track — one of my favorites in a long list of favorites by this band: New Order – “Age of Consent.”

Here’s a song that the BBC has banned, because of it “making light of rape, religion, and abortion” — Amanda Palmer chose to do it from the point of view of a vapid teenage girl, more obsessed with her favorite band than the events going on in the song. As she said, if she had done some emo, weepy, serious tone to the song, it most likely wouldn’t have been a problem for the broadcaster. I love it — though you should be warned that it’s a serious earworm. You play it through once, and you’ll be humming it all day: Amanda Palmer – “Oasis.”

You ever have a band that you *hate* to like, because the lead singer is a complete waste of skin? Hole is like that for me. I really loved what they were doing musically, but Courtney Love just pisses me off. Here is my favorite track by the band I hate to like — their absolutely stunning cover of the Fleetwood Mac classic: Hole – “Gold Dust Woman.”

Lastly, Michael Jackson. Andrew Sullivan sums up everything I would say about him, so go read that. There is no denying the impact that the man had on music and pop culture, and so to mark his passing, I’m posting two of my favorites:

From Off The Wall, his pre-Thriller album, my all-time favorite MJ song: Michael Jackson – “Don’t Stop ‘Till You Get Enough.”

…and from Thriller itself, my favorite song from the album: Michael Jackson – “Wanna Be Starting Something.”

…and there you have it. Enjoy.

Here we go:

First, a new group from NYC, whose performance I managed to catch on LOGO earlier this week. I’d first heard of them via Warren Ellis, who described them as: “PJ Harvey’s younger sister kicking electroclash back towards glam with big stompy boots while waving a chainsaw.” Hells yeah. The Fire and Reason — “Do It Again.”

Next up, Mute Math, a group that The Minion has been gasping about since her return from college. A little on the shoe-gaze-y side at first, but pretty… and once the drums kick in, the whole thing comes together. Mute Math – “Stall Out.”

I just found out that Muse has announced their new album will be released in September. No word yet on a title, or any advance singles. As soon as I’ve got something, you’ll hear it. In the meantime, here’s one of my favorite tracks from their last album, Black Holes and Revelations: Muse – “Starlight.”

Speaking of advance singles, here’s the single from the debut solo release from Del Marquis of the Scissor Sisters. This track moves away from the Sisters 70s-elton-john-plus-bowie-plus-bee-gees sound, and more into something like early to mid 80s pop-soul stuff. Del Marquis – “Any Kind of Love.” If you’d like to download the entire EP (Litter to Society), Marquis has offered it for free, here.

Thanks to a Craig Ferguson video making its rounds through my friends’ pages, I’ve had this song stuck in my head for a bit, so I’m throwing it out to you: They Might Be Giants – “Instanbul (Not Constantinople).”

And lastly, in honor of my turning 40 last week, a song from my misspent youth: Fear — “Let’s Have A War.”

Enjoy.

Kind of a short one this week — busy, busy, busy.

First off — I heard this track on our way out of Denver last weekend. It’s a London-based female-fronted punk band which is currently part of the Warped Tour. It dug into my head and wouldn’t let go, so I grabbed a copy and have listened to it about a gajillion times this week. I’m definitely picking up their album (Soho Lights). I love punk three-pieces, and having a “chick” as the lead rocks on toast. TAT – “Road to Paradise.”

New single from the debut album of the latest UK electropop sensation, Victoria Hesketh, known professionally as Little Boots. I’ve posted her single “Meddle” before, and here is another from her album, Hands, which comes out next week:

Another good britpop band, Golden Silvers, whose debut album, True Romance has just been released. Golden Silvers – “Arrows of Eros.”

This one is from 2003, but I’m just discovering it. A Melbourne-based band with a *huge* roster (a full brass section helps) that mixes rock, pop, swing, reggae and hip-hop. The Cat Empire – “Hello.”

Lastly, I heard the awful club hip-hop “remake” of this track by Flo Rida on our drive last weekend. To paraphrase Bono’s concert intro to U2’s version of “Helter Skelter”: This is a song Flo Rida stole from Dead or Alive… I’m stealing it back. Dead or Alive – You Spin Me Round (Like a Record).”

Enjoy.