See? I’m a man of my word, back again, with another spankingly good mix for you to get yer lug ‘oles round.
There are sleeve notes this week, but unless I can think of something hilarious, brilliant, pertinent or informative for every tune featured (which I really haven’t managed this time out), take it as read that there won’t be any more. Although I may resurrect them every now and again (hey, it is Easter after all).
Here you go folks, enjoy!
Friday Night Music Club Vol 52
- Bloc Party – The Prayer
And so my quest for the perfect record to kick off a Friday Night mix continues…this would be perfect, were it not about going out and being cool, which, if you’re actually listening to this on a Friday night, you’re not, just like me.
2. Everything Everything – Distant Past
My buddy Tim is often banging on about this lot on Twitter (seriously, does anyone actually call it X? Thought not), so this is for him.
3. Erasure – Victim Of Love
The first single by this lot that I bought. Yes, primarily bought to stick on a mixtape to entertain the 6th Form common room, but unlike others bought for the same reason (I’m looking at you, Bruce Willis and your cover of Under the Boardwalk), bought loving it.
4. Elvis Costello – (What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love & Understanding
Speaking of loving it, if this isn’t my favourite Costello single, then it’s right up there, despite it not having beem written by the great man himself. Take a bow, Mr Nick Lowe.
So why do I love it so much? I reckon you can blame Bill Murray for doing it at karaoke in Lost in Translation.
5. Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger & The Trinity – Save Me (Parts 1 & 2)
Not had any Northern Soul for a while, so this more than makes up for it, I think
6. Definition Of Sound – Wear Your Love Like Heaven
Oh, c’mon, you knew I’d drop this next, right?
7. The Velvelettes – These Things Will Keep Me Loving You
And back to a Northern Soul belter.
8. Gabriella Cilmi – Sweet About Me
I mentioned earworms at the weekend, songs which you suddenly find yourself humming or singing apparently unprompted. This is another of my recent ones.
Back in 2008, on the back of this single, for a brief nano-second, everyone thought Aussie Gabrielle was going to be a huge star. She seemed sassy, cool, sexy, and had a video which highlighted these characteristics, even if it did take the “the world’s a better place when it’s upside down, boy” lyric a little too literally:
If memory serves, even that *coughs* style guru Liam Gallagher was a fan.
And then we heard her album, realised she only had this one catchy tune, and promptly ignored her forever.
9. Courtney Barnett – Elevator Operator
Craving an alternative cool and contempory antipodean female artist? Courtney’s what you’re looking for.
10. Sheryl Crow – All I Wanna Do
This is just…such a great record…Not only catchy country-tinged rock, but those lyrics really paint a picture like nothing else she has done since (although there are many other great tunes in her back catalogue).
11. Simon & Garfunkel – The Boxer
Back in my 6th form days, and throughout my college years (and for a year after I graduated) I earned myself some pennies working in a Happy Eater roadside restaurant. For the first few years this was at Sawtry (South), and I would usually get a lift to and from work with the manager, Jane.
Jane was a couple of years older than me, in fact she’d been in the same school year as my brother. He won’t remember this, he steadfastly refuses to remember anyone who wasn’t in a dodgy non-band with him, or a goth or a punk, like what he was. Jane and I found that we shared similar musical tastes, enjoyed singing along to a tune or two as she drove us to-and-from work, and if we had done the late shift, we would often end up at hers, where the three of us – me, her and her fiance, Andrew – would have a few wind-down beers, play a few records, and have a bit of a sing-song. Thinking about it, it’s probably when the seed of what you’re reading now was planted.
On occasions, we’d go to her friend Kathy’s house, where much the same would happen. We’d plunder her parents’ record collection (predominantly Simon & Garfunkel, The Carpenters, that kind of thing) and we’d take it in turns to pick one to play, and then we’d drunkenly sing-a-long. This was a favourite end-of-nighter.
All together now: “LI-LA-LI! LI-LA-LI-LI-LI-LA-LI!”
Happy times.
12. R.E.M. – Radio Free Europe (Original Hib-Tone Single)
This doesn’t need any explanation, does it? The birth of one of the greatest, most interesting (college) rock bands.
12. LCD Soundsystem – Daft Punk Is Playing At My House
If I was being super-predictable, I’d play some Daft Punk next. But I’m not, so I won’t. Instead, this bleak little bastard:
13. Joy Division – She’s Lost Control
Again, no explanation required, you all know how important and influential this lot were.
14. Hot Chip – Over and Over
Rounding things off this week with a much more upbeat tune, even if it is a snarling response to criticism of their previous releases having been “laid back”. Which would be fine, had they released anything quite as un-laid back since (*awaits Comments directing me to a particular Hot Chip tune which isn’t laid back, of which there are many*).
More soon, as they say (well, me, I say that).
A History of Dubious Taste 