First Friday Music of 2008

To kick things off– I was reminded of this song by a post by Andrew Sullivan, and so, in honor of the events of last night, and the year ahead: Leonard Cohen – “Democracy.”

and I watched a documentary the other day, called “Made in Sheffield”, which was about the music scene there in the late 70s, which blew up onto the world stage in the early 80s (The Human League, Cabaret Voltaire, Heaven 17, Def Leppard, etc.). It featured a bit on this group as well, which reminded me how much I liked them. ABC – “Poison Arrow.”

Another song I like, and perhaps even more cheesey…the opening music from the very first installment of the 80s anime Bubblegum Crisis. I recently ready how this character and her band’s sound was meant to emulate the look and music of “Ellen Aim” in Streets of Fire, which bombed here but was big in Japan. I hadn’t noticed before, but it’s definitely there. Pris and the Replicants – “Konya Wa Hurricane.”

The first break-out single from the Stereo MCs often gets overlooked now, in favor of their later hit “Connected”, But it was the first UK hip-hop track to hit the US R&B charts. Stereo MCs – “Elevate My Mind.”

Some experimental electronic-pop by Noah Lennox of Animal Collective, who records under the name Panda Bear. This track was listed as one of the 100 best songs of 2007 by Rolling Stone. Panda Bear – “Comfy in Nautica.”

Lastly, one of my favorite tracks from Thievery Corporation’s 2000 album, The Mirror Conspiracy, which they described as “a soundtrack to an imaginary movie.” Thievery Corporation – “Shadows of Ourselves.”

Enjoy!