IVY - "Fascinated"

Ivy are a New York band featuring French vocalist Dominique Durand. They released their debut album 'Realistic' in 1995 and followed that up with their moderately successful second album 'Apartment Life' in 1997. A few releases and a long break later, this indie pop band emerged with a new album and a change of musical style. 'All Hours' was released in 2011 and keyboards had now become L'instrument du jour. "Fascinated" is 80's synth-pop and Kraftwerk for today's hipsters.

Morrissey - "I've Changed My Plea To Guilty"

Come on Oscar - it's not too late for you to do the same.

Sucking Chest Wound - "Mary Dear"

Sucking Chest Wound were a Canadian collective who were active during the late 80's and early 90's. The album 'God Country Family' was created as a multi-media piece and originally released in 1990 on cassette only - with the CD version released in 1992. They were not signed to any label and self released this album, which they limited to only 1000 copies on CD. I had one of those copies up until a burglary in Auckland years ago - and I've never managed to find another copy. I would love to hear the album in its entirety again. Although, I did manage to find a digital version of the song that I most wanted to play on Bitter FM, which is "Mary Dear". Combine some borrowed dialogue from an unknown radio play with a Slayer guitar sample - and the result is spine-chilling.

Lydia Cole - "Feels Like"

Lydia Cole's "Feels Like" single is a perfect (radio friendly) pop song that has generally been overlooked. Even when I playlisted it on Bitter, I quickly forgot about it. So I'm righting the wrong right here right now.

Scritti Politti - "The Word Girl"

Scritti Politti had a hit in 1984 with "Wood Beez (Pray Like Aretha Franklin)" and we realised then that Green Gartside, the leading member, was not your typical lyricist. His 80's blue eyed soul was blended with some reggae on "The Word Girl", the fourth single from the album 'Cupid & Psyche 85'. "The Word Girl" is not actually about a girl - but about the word 'Girl' often used in songwriting, in a casual or lazy way. Maybe to emphasise his point, he does exactly that in the chorus.

Eagulls - "Possessed"

Eagulls are an indie rock/punk band from Leeds. They are starting to get some attention as they finally release their debut album. "Possessed" was available back in 2011 on the Mazes/Eagulls split single - but it is now leading them into a new phase of popularity. "Possessed" reminds me of the Flying Nun band 3d's with the soaring guitars. Although that may be coincidental, there are certainly some influences from 80's post-punk bands. This song possesses everyone who comes within earshot of it.

Mary Gauthier - "I Drink"

If you have a feeling you drink too much, you can either conceal your habit or just casually admit it like Mary Gauthier does here on "I Drink".... no big deal. Actually, the song has an autobiographic aspect to it. She was an alcoholic from her mid teens and this song was written after she quit drinking at the age of 29. She later said that she could not have written "I Drink" if she hadn't been addicted. One of the greatest drinking songs ever written.



Lyrics - "I Drink"

He’d get home at 5:30, fix his drink
And sit down in his chair
Pick a fight with mama
Complain about us kids getting in his hair
At night he’d sit alone and smoke
I’d see his frown behind his lighter’s flame
Now that same frown’s in my mirror
I got my daddy’s blood inside my veins

Fish swim birds fly
Daddies yell mamas cry
Old men sit and think
I drink

Chicken TV dinner
6 minutes on defrost, 3 on high
A beer to wash it down with
Then another, a little whiskey on the side
It’s not so bad alone here
It don’t bother me that every night’s the same
I don’t need another lover
Hanging round, trying to make me change

Fish swim birds fly
Lovers leave by and by
Old men sit and think
I drink

I know what I am
But I don’t give a damn
Fish swim birds fly
Daddies yell mamas cry
Old men sit and think
I drink