Beck - "The New Pollution"

"The New Pollution" is another moment of wonder from Beck's 'Odelay' album. The retro-modern sound he produced with old samples and current day beats seemed effortless from a guy that was at his creative peak. Confirmed by the success of the added saxophone, which quite often fails in popular music, in my opinion. Everything he touched then was genius... don't believe me? Well you better check out the video that he directed which is every bit as good as the song.

Wheat - "I met a girl"

Massachusetts indie-pop band 'Wheat' released their third album 'Per Second, Per Second, Per Second ... Every Second' in 2003 and it was decidedly catchier than their previous 'Hope and Adams' album. Newly signed to a major label, they reversed the indie/pop scale to pop/indie here on their biggest hit "I Met a Girl" with their reputations still intact (although, their hardcore fans might have a different opinion). I heard they recently reformed and refused to play this song live... My uneducated guess on all things 'Wheat' is that "I Met a Girl" symbolizes their bad major label experience. But hey, we can still enjoy it. "I met a girl I'd like to know better - but I'm already with someone"... oh, what a dilemma.



These guys have a similar dilemma
Flight Of The Conchords - "I met a girl (over there)"

Fresh Meat

The casserole is almost ready... bon appetit.

Ruby - "Paraffin"

Ruby were a duo featuring Lesley Rankine and producer Mark Walk. Their debut album 'Salt Peter' was released in 1995 and it featured the dark, yet beautiful, trip-hop/industrial single "Paraffin." In "Paraffin" you can sense a lot of feeling and expression in Lesley's voice. However, it wasn't quite the angry song I thought it was. It turns out, after some research, that "Paraffin" is actually about the smell of body fluids during sex. How about that!

3 generations of a bass line

1st Generation: The Horace Silver Quintet - "Song For My Father" (1964)

Horace Silver's classic Blue Note release "Song For My Father" from 1964 had a memorable opening bass piano line that became legendary. Actually, the complete song is 7 minutes of jazz bliss. He was known more as a hard bop artist but there are definitely some bossa-nova touches here. A wonderful tribute to his father.



2nd Generation: Steely Dan - "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" (1974)

Steely Dan's biggest hit "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" opened with the aforementioned bass piano line of Horace Silver's. The song goes in a very different direction thereafter, but the opening notes are memorable, once again.



3rd Generation: Us3 - "Eleven Long Years" (1993)

Here is Horace Silver's famous bass piano line taken in another direction again on "Eleven Long Years" by the rap/jazz band Us3. They released their debut album 'Hand on the Torch' in 1993. It was a Blue Note label remix project that set the stage for many jazz/hip-hop hybrids to follow... but not many reached the heights of this album. Although, it must be said that Miles Davis had successfully merged the two genres when he worked with hip-hop artists for his 'Doo-Bop' album recorded in 1991 and posthumously released in 1992 (and that will be the subject of a future blog post). Maybe that was where Us3 got their inspiration from.

Jacqueline Taieb - "7 heure du matin"

Jacqueline Taieb's classic 1967 ye-ye hit "7 heure du matin" is a great example of that genre at it's peak during the 60's. A sweet and sexy song with a touch of innocence. In fact, the reason I love 60's French music could be summed up in this song alone. "7 heure du matin" is like an encyclopedia of 60's pop culture all wrapped up in just over 2 minutes. It's about a mademoiselle waking up at 7am and fantasising about Paul McCartney helping her do her study... with a riff from The Who, typical ye-ye and British beat happening and some 60's garage rock going on... and all this before breakfast.

Etienne de Crecy - "3 day weekend"

It has been such a great long weekend.... what it really needs is a soundtrack by Etienne de Crecy.
Done.

Jason Lytle - "Dept. Of Disappearance"

"Dept. Of Disappearance" is the title track from Jason Lytle's, just released, second solo album. After the demise of his former band 'Grandaddy' (and before, if you include Grandaddy's 'Summer, it's gone') he has revealed some raw emotions through his songs. The emotions varying from disappointment to bitterness. But to the average fan of Grandaddy, his solo albums fill the gap perfectly... like they are another Grandaddy release. The bleakness is still present on "Dept. Of Disappearance" but the musical landscape is always brighter than the subject might convey. Whether it be Grandaddy or Jason Lytle solo, this fan has never been disappointed.

Lee Dorsey - "Working In a Coal Mine"

I have been busy, although, not from working in a coal mine, but from work and play over the last few days. It is now Labour weekend in New Zealand so I will be back posting some great songs on this blog. Here is a song for the workers... on Labour Weekend.

Boo'sey Tuesday.

Boo Radleys - "Wake Up Boo!"



Great Boo's Up

Grant McLennan - "Easy Come, Easy Go"

Former 'Go-Betweens' member Grant McLennan released a fantastic debut solo album 'Watershed' in 1991. It is surprising to hear that the sales didn't match the critical praise it received. It was played at every party or BBQ I went to in those days... we all seemed to have a copy. The album is full of gems that followed on from the where the Go-Betweens left off. Grant McLennan was more pop sounding than his Go-Betweens co-founder Robert Forster - which peaked on their album '16 Lovers Lane' through to his debut solo. "Easy Come, Easy Go" is a jangly pop song that warmed up a few BBQ's back in the early 90's.
Sadly, he died of a heart attack in 2006... but his music will live on forever.

First Aid Kit - "The Lion's Roar" Live on Soundcheck

I've posted an earlier song by 'First Aid Kit' on this blog after their impressive debut album 'The Black & The Blue' from 2010. The release of their follow up album 'The Lion's Roar' has been the coming-of-age for these young Swedish siblings. An album of maturity way past their years... as I have probably stated many times - but this time it is an even stronger case. Traditional folk sensibilities and perfect harmonies are just two of the ingredients that make 'First aid Kit' the best folk band you will hear in 2012... and beyond.

Dabrye - "The Lish"

Dabrye is a musical project for Michigan electronic musician Tadd Mullinix. "The Lish" is from the debut Dabrye album 'One/Three' from 2001. Plenty of beeps, blips and whirring.... for a laid back sunday or party warmer. Cool electronica for any occasion.

Rumer - "On My Way Home"

Recently I've been listening to a lot of blue-eyed soul from artists old and new. One from the new stable is Rumer. Her debut album 'Seasons Of My Soul' from 2010 was a mixture of classic soul and easy listening pop. She can bring to mind everyone from Dusty Springfield (the queen of blue-eyed soul), Carole King, Karen carpenter and Laura Nyro... which isn't a bad thing. "On My Way Home" is more on the easy listening side - but it's her soulful voice that won me over. Mainstream but without being bland. A suitable analogy for "On My Way Home" would be "It's like a Big Mac but without the cheese".

Bernard Herrmann - "Twisted Nerve"

Bernard Herrmann was the master of the horror movie score and soundtrack. He was Alfred Hitchcock's go-to man and very much sought after during his long career. "Twisted Nerve" was a lesser known horror/thriller directed by Roy Boulting - in a similar style to Hitchcock. This classic British horror from 1968 impressed, not only for it's strong performances from Hywel Bennett and the grown-up Hayley Mills, but for Bernard Herrmann's whistling theme. The tune is heard throughout the movie as part of the score and is also whistled by the lead character. Quentin Tarantino paid tribute when he had a character whistle it in Kill Bill. So after all this time the film may be remembered more for it's theme than anything else.



A whistling scene from Twisted Nerve

The Prodigy vs. Moby - "Natural Bitch"

Even if you are not a fan of mash-ups - you can not deny the fact that this one works so well. It is a mash-up of Moby's "Natural Blues" and The Prodigy's "Smack My Bitch Up" and they meld together brilliantly. In fact, so much so, that it could easily get played at a party or club and go unnoticed as a mash-up... but one thing is for sure, the dance floor would be packed.



Moby - "Natural Blues"



Vera Hall - "Trouble So Hard"

This is where Moby got the sample for "Natural Blues." Probably Moby's easiest song because of the quality of the sample but he deserves credit for what he did and for bringing this great artist to a much wider audience. "Trouble So Hard" was originally from the field recordings of father and son ethnomusicologist team John and Alan Lomax.



The Prodigy - "Smack My Bitch Up" NSFW

Here is the original (uncensored) video of The Prodigy "Smack My Bitch Up" and I urge you NOT to watch this at work. It wasn't shown on many music channels when released... although former NZ music channel Max TV didn't have a problem playing it occasionally. It has a twist, at the end, greater than 'The Sixth Sense.'


The Prodigy - Smack My Bitch Up on MUZU.TV.

Japandroids - "The House That Heaven Built"

Japandroids are one of the loudest 2-piece bands around. The Canadian duo released their second album 'Celebration Rock' a few months ago. The first single "The House That Heaven Built" is a shouty rock-punk anthem - a style that they have made their own. Like the album itself, "The House That Heaven Built" is positive. They are having so much fun... anyone who tries to bring them down can "go to hell."

The Smiths - "How Soon Is Now"

The last post was possibly the most annoying song of the 80's - so today we will counter that with possibly the greatest song of the 80's "How Soon Is Now" by The Smiths.


the smiths - how soon is now.. by robertjgunn

The intro to "How Soon Is Now" was sampled in the song "Hippychick" by English dance-pop band Soho in 1990.

Soho - "Hippychick"

Joe Dolce - "Shaddap You Face"

Here is the most annoying song of the 80's. If you haven't heard it you will soon know what I mean. If you have heard it... think very hard before you click play.

The Libertines - "Can't Stand Me Now"

The Libertines could've ruled the indie-rock world... in fact, they did rule the UK for a short time. But it all went wrong and we all know why. Pete Doherty's drug habit just got a bit too much for fellow lead member Carl Barat and their relationship was at a real low point while recording their self titled second album. However, that album produced some of their best songs like "Campaign Of Hate" and "Can't Stand Me Now", which was about their strained relationship. The band inevitably dissolved and Doherty formed 'Babyshambles' while Barat started 'Dirty Pretty Things' both with moderate success. Oh, what could've been!