Category: Music

Since tomorrow is Safe Non-Threatening Rebellion By Blowing Up Fireworks Even Though They’re Technically Illegal In Many Municipalities Day, and most Americans have the day off…..that sorta makes today Friday.

So, this week’s music:

First up, the only vaguely themed entry. A look at the immigrant’s experience — specifically Irish expats living in NYC (and bearing no relation to the James Brown track of the same name): Black 47 – “Livin’ in America.”

Caught The Wicker Man on the telly a few days back. Not the laughable abomination that is the Nick Cage totally-missing-the-point “remake”, but the brilliant 1973 original that mixed mystery, horror, sociology and…oddly…musical. I’ve always loved the music in that film, and so I finally tracked down the soundtrack. Here’s my favorite track, the opening theme — based on a Bobby Burns poem: Paul Giovanni – “Corn Rigs.”

Last weekend, and I also saw Wanted, and loved it. Great cast, John Woo-on-Meth bullet-fu…and a score by Danny Elfman, including a brand new single from the former Oingo Boingo frontman! Danny Elfman – “The Little Things.”

A track from steampunk band Abney Park’s latest album. Extremely goofy, but I like it bunches: Abney Park – “Airship Pirate.”

One of my favorite tracks from the previous decade: James – “Laid.”

Lastly, for those of you who caught the Euro2008 final last Sunday, this is the Official Song ™ that was peformed during the opening ceremony. I found myself really liking it, so I went hunting the next day and tracked it down. Enrique Eglesias – “Can You Hear Me (Euro 2008).”

OK, I lied. I’ll close with another sorta-kinda holiday themed track. An absolute cheese-fest from 1986, but a song that never fails to cheer me up when I hear it, mostly out of memories of the film where it was used (Running Scared): Michael McDonald – “Sweet Freedom.”

Enjoy, folks.

Not a long list this week — things have been insanely busy, and I haven’t really had the time to search.

First up, for The Minion and for everyone supporting Germany in Sunday’s Euro2008 final, here’s a novelty tune currently playing on German radio, urging the team to “bring it home.” Oliver Pocher – “Bringt Ihn Heim.”

One of the new tracks from Coldplay’s latest album — I was drawn in by the title, I’ll admit. Makes me want to dust off the eyeliner and Black #1, a bit. Coldplay – “Cemeteries of London.”

A brilliant piece of verbal dexterity and turntable skills…Blackilicious feat. Cut Chemist – “Chemical Calisthenics.”

We finish up with two new mash-ups. The first is less recognizable to most folks, but I love how it turned out. It mixes Nine Inch Nails “Hand That Feeds” with Roisin Murphy’s “You Know Me Better” — PingPong – “You Know The Hand That Feeds You.”

And lastly, an absolutely amazing mix of Faith No More, Queen and AC-DC. I *love* this. DJ Lobsterdust – “Epic Black Rock.”

There you go. Enjoy.

Here we go….

For the solstice, to kick off summer, one of my favorite tracks from Springsteen’s latest album, Magic: Bruce Springsteen – “Girls In Their Summer Clothes.”

Another song I associate with summer, since I saw these guys at the Guinness Fleadh in NYC in late June 1999 (and for the edification of The Minion, who tells me that her future college roommate is apparently a big fan): The Saw Doctors – “N17.”

Caught the Tony Awards on TV recently, where In the Heights won best musical. I’ve heard people calling it “RENT for the new century” — it’s the story of a few days in the diverse neighborhood of Washington Heights, and mixes latin music, soul and hip-hop. I immediately grabbed the cast recording. It’s brilliant. Here is the number they performed at the awards — a track where the neighborhood discovers via the newspaper that somebody in the city won the Lotto (New York Lottery): In the Heights Original Broadway Cast – “96,000.”

Duffy is a new singer out of the UK — same sort of retro-soul vibe as Amy Winehouse, with slightly less talent, but massively less train-wreck-drug-abuse factor. Good stuff: Duffy – “Mercy.”

PONI HOAX is a french electronic act, who are obviously influenced by the early 80s New Romantics and Italo-disco sounds. This is a fun one: PONI HOAX – “Antibodies.”

New singer out of Brooklyn, whose sound mixes 90s neo-soul, 20s jazz, and 70s funk and rock. There aren’t enough O’s in Smooooooth to describe this one. Maiysha – “Wanna Be.”

This is one that I’ve posted before, but it’s been stuck in my head all week long, and I’ve been listening to it daily. So, to exorcise the brainworm: Mademoiselle K – “Ça Me Vexe.”

There you go. Hope you like.