Those Dancing Days - "Fuckarias"

Why haven't this Swedish band 'Those Dancing Days' become a worldwide phenomenon yet? A good question to ponder over the holidays. I see a new year's resolution here - I might ask everyone I meet from then on, if they know of 'Those Dancing Days' and if they say no, I will ask them why. Do I really want to know what they do for a living? Of course not, this is much better information. I realise it will kill almost all conversations.... but if there is a yes, that conversation is just starting.

Gangstagrass - "Red Sky Morning" featuring Nitty Scott MC

I can't get enough of the 'Rappalachia' album by hip-hop hillbillies Gangstagrass. I've already featured them on here so I won't go over old ground. However, if you don't know anything about them, don't worry, because their name kind of explains everything... Gangsta Rap meets Bluegrass. On "Red Sky Morning" it is Nitty Scott, MC on the mic. Yeah, Yeah, Yeehaw!

Natasha Leggero - "Toilet Babies"

Natasha Leggero's 'Coke Money' album is one of the few comedy albums that I go back to time and time again.

Metric - "Breathing Underwater"

I've been a bit busy lately and my blog has been neglected. But I have one real good excuse... and I mean real good excuse. Metric live at The Power Station in Auckland on Saturday night. They turned all their mini anthems into fucking massive anthems.

Harry Nilsson - Everybody's Talkin'/Paul Oakenfold - "Starry Eyed Surprise"

Here on Bitter FM we now have a folk show hosted by Jersey Bob. Tonight's folk hour featured a song that I, and everybody else, have heard many times. The song was "Everybody's Talkin'" by Harry Nilsson. I am ashamed to say that when I heard the intro, I thought we were about to hear "Starry Eyed Surprise" by Paul Oakenfold - you know the song, the Coke ad and all. Anyway, my disrespect of a legendary singer-songwriter needed some kind of explanation. The first witness was wikipedia and all was revealed. On "Starry Eyed Surprise" Paul Oakenfold had sampled "Everybody's Talkin'" so I am hopefully forgiven... although, I hope I recognise it as the original next time.
Case closed.



Paul Oakenfold - "Starry Eyed Surprise" (you see what I mean)

Nikki Lane - "Gone, Gone, Gone"

"Gone, Gone, Gone" is the title track to Nikki Lane's 2011 EP. She went from a fashion designer to a retro country singer after a relationship breakup caused her to pick up the guitar to reflect. What emerged was some good old 60's country with a modern feel. The twang of Loretta Lynn is there but she is no tribute artist. This is revivalist country at its best, but with a dark twist.

Iggy Pop & The Stooges - "Gimme Danger"

The 'Raw Power' album by The Stooges from 1973, regardless of the mix, was to find more favour years after its release. It is said to have been inspirational to many artists, including Kurt Cobain and Johnny Marr. However, there has always been some disagreement over the mix. Raw Power was originally mixed by David Bowie, over a 24 hour period and with old technology. His mix certainly had its fair share of critics. Iggy Pop mixed it himself more recently and that had a mixed (pun not intended but I can't be bothered changing it) reaction as well. Some artists and critics still prefer the old Bowie mix and others relishing the rougher and loader guitar of Iggy Pop's mix. But frankly my dear, I don't give a damn - "Gimme Danger" any mix, any time.

The Specials - "Nelson Mandela"

We all know about the sacrifices Nelson Mandela made for a long period of his life and it was great to know that there was a protest movement against his imprisonment from early on. This movement gained a lot of momentum in 1984 after the release of The Specials' (The Special A.K.A.) "Nelson Mandela" protest song in 1984. Well, he was finally released and then he rewrote history. Legend.

Lucy Michelle and the Velvet Lapelles - "Not Keeping Company"

Lucy Michelle and the Velvet Lapelles are a Minneapolis band with an interesting range of instruments. Ukelele, cello, accordion, as well as the conventional guitar, bass and drums - and here on "Not Keeping Company" we are even treated to some good old xylophone and whistling. On top of that we get something quite special in way of Lucy's voice and phrasing. I will now add the class of the lyrics, which means I've basically covered everything that is good about music. My love of Lucy Michelle and the Velvet Lapelles started after I heard "Not Keeping Company" from their third album 'Good of That' and kept getting rewarded thereafter. They are now known as 'Field Trip' - Lucy Michelle also released a solo album recently. Enjoy!

The Cardigans - "Iron Man"

Swedish band The Cardigans covered Black Sabbath's "Iron Man" on their 'First Band on the Moon' album from 1996. The big hit was "Lovefool" and that song deserved all its accolades. But "Iron Man" was the real surprise of the album. Possibly loved and loathed in equal measure... but when you really think about it, it isn't a radical change from the original - you could say it has gone through a de-metal process, in the same way coffee can be decaffeinated.



Black Sabbath - "Iron Man" (Original)