Category: Music

Glad to be back — missed last week’s entry because I was sick. So, here we go:

First up — a cleaner copy than the one I posted yesterday (which had DJ chatter all over it). This is the new Bond theme, and it’s a total earworm. Are we looking at the first hit-single Bond theme since 1985’s View To A Kill? Who knows — and I don’t really care: *I* love it, and that’s all that matters to me. Jack White and Alicia Keys – “Another Way To Die.”

Took a bit of digging to find this track — I heard it when it was used as the end-credits music for the first episode of HBO’s southern-cracker-vampire show, True Blood. I liked it far better than the track they’ve chosen for the main theme (a passable bit of country-rockabilly reminiscent of Chris Issac’s “Baby Did A Bad Bad Thing.”). This track is country, but it also is *extremely* close to the sound of Fleetwood Mac (specifically, “The Chain”), thanks to the bass drum and the two-men/two-women harmonies. The lyrics are moody as fuck, too. Give a listen — Little Big Town – “Bones.”

Some new UK music, from the Glasgow-based group The Cinematics. This track is actually a cover of an album track by Beck, but the band gives it one helluva mid-80s Echo & The Bunnymen vibe: The Cinematics – “Sunday Sun.”

Staying with the Glasgow theme for a bit, here we have the lead track from the debut album by a new band from there, released last week (and with one of the all-time best band names, in my opinion): Glasvegas – “Flowers and Football Tops.”

A song I hadn’t listened to in a while, but which remains one of my favorites from the early 80s: Flock of Seagulls – “Wishing (If I Had A Photograph Of You).”

Oops — now I’ve done it. I’ve entered the Nostalgia Zone. Another track from the 80s — from the soundtrack of a mediocre movie, skyrocketted to chart success because the public was hungry for more Springsteen, but had exhausted the singles from Born In The USA. I have to admit, I still think of this song as being the work of “Eddie & The Cruisers”, even though I know that it’s John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band – “On The Dark Side.”

The song that introduced me to Johnny Clegg — his first US single, from 1988’s Shadow Man: Johnny Clegg & Savuka – “Take My Heart Away.” The Zulu response in the verse is Dedela umoya wami, Baba — Set my spirit free, Father.

Lastly, a Friday guilty pleasure from the Josie & The Pussycats soundtrack, a more-than-serviceable bit of pop-punk to get your asses moving and ready for your weekend: Josie & The Pussycats – “Spin Around.”

There you go, kids — as always, if the links give you trouble, try copy-and-paste.

Enjoy.

Back after a brief hiatus….

First up — for ‘s birthday, one of her favorite Duran Duran b-sides. This was from the recording sessions of Seven and the Ragged Tiger — and, unlike a lot of b-sides, is a song that they sometimes perform in concert (I’m fairly sure we saw them do this in Jones Beach, NY in 99). Duran Duran – “Secret Oktober.”

Another track she (and I) both like — which we were reminded of as we watched a retrospective on “The Prince of Paisley Park” last night on VH1. From the glory days before he went all God Warrior on us. Prince – “Raspberry Beret.”

A while back I posted tracks from Bitter:Sweet (“The Mating Game”, for example — the track used in the Korbel ads). They’ve got a new album out, and it’s just as good. Swingy, retro-electronica/trip-hop kinda stuff, as usual. LOVE IT. Bitter:Sweet – “The Bomb.”

Brought to my attention by , here’s some seriously hard, seriously loud and (thank god) seriously POLITICAL metal. Seriously. Plus, fronted by a woman who (thankfully) keeps the Cookie-Monster-Voice roaring to a minimum. Otep – “Confrontation.”

A track we heard on the way back from The Minion’s college, on one of the area college stations. I had no idea that the band was a side project of Jack White from The White Stripes — I only had a snippet of remembered lyrics to track down the song — but now I’ve definitely got to hear more. The Raconteurs – “Level.”

Another track from the same station, during the same set. Again, I tracked it down by lyrics. I love the internet. MGMT – “Electric Feel.”

Enjoy, and remember the usual caveat: If a link gives you trouble, try copy-and-paste.

….and we’re back.

As I mentioned in my GenCon wrap-up, I saw Tropic Thunder last Wednesday, and loved it. I checked out the soundtrack album, only to discover that the one track that features as a major point of the film (the producers’ dance track, if you’ve seen the film) isn’t on the bloody album! WTF? So, naturally, I had to go out and find it. Here it is, in all its NSFW-language glory: Ludacris – “Get Back.”

In the hotel one morning (FAR too early), I caught the video for this song as I was getting ready. As I remarked to at the time, they aught to just call her “Amy Winehouse With Far Less Risk For the Label.” More neo-soul from the UK: Duffy – “Warwick Avenue.”

Another really well-done mashup, this time between the Police, Leona Lewis, and a few other bits n’ bobs: Divide-Kreate: “Every Bleeding Breath (Leona Lewis vs The Police).”

My favorite track from Adam & The Ants: a b-side where they showed off their punk roots. Adam & The Ants – “Beat My Guest.” “Use a truncheon or a cricket bat — a good beatings’ really where it’s at.”

Another brilliant track from Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett’s Monkey: Journey to the West. Pick up this album. Once the DVD of the actual opera is released, I need to track that down as well. Monkey – “Monkey Bee.”

Underground alternative hip-hop from Aesop Rock — the title track to last year’s album. This guys flow is, as the kids say, SICK. Aesop Rock – “None Shall Pass.”

A little bit of bouncy 90s alterno-pop for ya, to round out your day. It’s Friday, people. Rejoice! Republica – “Ready To Go.”

Enjoy.