Temple of the Dog - "Hunger Strike"

'Temple of the Dog' were a grunge supergroup from Seattle featuring Chris Cornell (of Soundgarden), Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament (both ex-members of Mother Love Bone and Pearl Jam thereafter), Mike McCready (a friend of Stone Gossard at the time, and Pearl Jam lead guitarist thereafter), drummer Matt Cameron (he also became a member of Pearl Jam) and Eddie Vedder (Lead singer of Pearl Jam, of course). Although, this was before most of them had become so well known.
'Temple of the Dog' originally started as a tribute to Chris Cornell's friend Andrew Wood, the lead singer of Mother Love Bone, who died of an overdose. The idea was to release a tribute single with the other members of 'Mother Love Bone' and it grew to a self titled album released in 1991. "Hunger Strike," a duet between Chris Cornell and Eddie Vedder became the biggest hit, and the best known song from the album. Eddie Vedder had gone to Seattle from San Diego for an audition as the singer of Mookie Blaylock (which eventually became Pearl Jam) and he was in the studio at the time of the recording.
Here is how Chris Cornell remembers it (Thanks to the Spin Magazine article 'Ten Past Ten' from 2001, by Eric Weisbard with Jessica Letkemann, Ann Powers, Chris Norris, William Van Meter, and Will Hermes.....
"I had pulled out "Hunger Strike" and I had this feeling it was just kind of gonna be filler, it didn't feel like a real song. Eddie was sitting there kind of waiting for a [Mookie Blaylock] rehearsal and I was singing parts, and he kind of humbly—but with some balls—walked up to the mic and started singing the low parts for me because he saw it was kind of hard. We got through a couple choruses of him doing that and suddenly the light bulb came on in my head, this guy's voice is amazing for these low parts. History wrote itself after that, that became the single."

Unknown Mortal Orchestra - "Ffunny Ffrends"

Unknown Mortal Orchestra are a band from Portland and have recently released their self titled debut album on Fat Possum records. "Ffunny Ffrends" is a single from the album.

<<<<< rewind a few years...

Auckland band 'The Mint Chicks' win five awards in New Zealand for the album 'Crazy? Yes! Dumb? No!' in 2007. They relocate to Porland in the USA. They release their third studio album 'Screens' in 2009. They release the 'Bad Buzz EP' in 2010. Their final concert was a chaotic affair... Singer Kody Nielson attacks his brother Ruban Nielson (guitarist) and also dismantles the drums, before storming off the stage. The Mint Chicks are no more. Kody joins Bic Runga as Kody & Bic in NZ. Ruban starts up 'Unknown Mortal Orchestra' back in Portland. 'Unknown Mortal Orchestra' release debut album in June.

>>>>> fast forward to present....

Now where was I, oh yeah, the single "Ffunny Ffrends"....which is Ffucking Ffantastic!

George Smilovici - "I'm Tuff" (1984)

Australian comedian George Smilovici had a number one hit in Australia and New Zealand with this single "I'm Tuff" in 1984. It was a great achievement for a comedy single to chart, but to hit the top of the charts, was something else. The video is the only thing here that seems a bit dated.... the comedy itself is timeless. I only have this on vinyl and it's a bit scratched to convert to digital... so the only time it gets played on air is a late night drunken live vinyl show... which is appropriate really.

REDTRACK - "Perfectly Fine Intellectual"

My first thought after hearing "Perfectly Fine Intellectual" by Redtrack was how much they reminded me of The Buzzcocks. They had the same thrash punk/new wave attitude... a young 2010 version, with a little Libertines and Arctic Monkeys thrown in. So it was no real surprise to find out that Pete Shelley from The Buzzcocks had produced the single "Pole Dancer" from their debut album 'Whole Town's Heart.' "Perfectly Fine Intellectual," another single from the debut, is a pulse-racing, lift-me-up indie/punk song that could save you buying another coffee. Aural caffeine!

The Fall - "Kurious Oranj"

In 1988 The Fall released an album titled 'I Am Kurious Oranj,' which came during a high period of their career, after previously releasing 'This Nation's Saving Grace' (1985), 'Bend Sinister' (1986) and 'The Frenz Experiment' (1988). But this album was an unlikely foray into ballet. No Mark E Smith and co didn't change careers, but they did provide the music to Michael Clark's ballet 'I Am Curious Orange.' It was more like a 'Fall' album than a soundtrack.... I would say it was more of a concept album. However, it was also performed live with the ballet at the time. The ballet was based on the 300th anniversary of William Of Orange's ascendancy to the English throne. I don't know too much about the ballet... but getting The Fall to write the music for it was a win/win scenario. Michael Clark got the perfect musical soundtrack and we got a fantastic album, once again, from The Fall.... regardless of any knowledge of the ballet.

Lana Del Rey - "Video Games"

Lana Del Rey is going to be a star... that much is true. It is the level of stardom that isn't so clear. If she stays indie-cool and self produces her music and videos, she will build on the buzz she has already created. If she goes with a major label and the corporate marketing machine gets behind her, she will be a huge star, but her credibility will be lost and she will end up no different to all the others... talent aside. She has already released an EP under her real name Lizzy Grant but has deleted it from all download stores. Her focus is obviously on her new Lana Del Rey persona and she has created a youtube buzz with her songs "Video Games" and "Blue Jeans," which will be released in October. The videos were produced by her... so no matter what is going on behind the scenes, she is currently quite independent. She is also creating more of a buzz by way of her mysteriousness... a long delay for the release of her first single (the aforementioned "Video Games" w/ "Blue Jeans"), the postponement of her first concert, which sold out in minutes, and her lack of media interviews (Pitchfork is about the only interview to date, with selective questions answered). She looks like a Hollywood star and that is the main area of her criticism on blogs etc. Okay, how about her music? "Video Games" is a retro, melancholy song with sparse orchestration (guitar, piano and strings), yet powerful vocals... as in low and sultry. Think, a young jazz singer from Lake Placid walking on to a 50's/60's movie set, with David Lynch directing, and you are close. You may need to open a window or two after listening to this. Yes, this song is my latest obsession. Pre-order this on iTunes, you will not regret it.



(Lyrics)
Swinging in the backyard
Pull up in your fast car
Whistling my name

Open up a beer
And you take it over here
And play a video game

I'm in his favorite sun dress
Watching me get undressed
Take that body downtown

I say you the bestest
Lean in for a big kiss
Put his favorite perfume on

Go play a video game

It's you, it's you, it's all for you
Everything I do
I tell you all the time
Heaven is a place on earth with you
Tell me all the things you want to do
I heard that you like the bad girls
Honey, is that true?
It's better than I ever even knew
They say that the world was built for two
Only worth living if somebody is loving you
Baby now you do

Singing in the old bars
Swinging with the old stars
Living for the fame

Kissing in the blue dark
Playing pool and wild darts
Video games

He holds me in his big arms
Drunk and I am seeing stars
This is all I think of

Watching all our friends fall
In and out of Old Paul's
This is my idea of fun
Playing video games

It's you, it's you, it's all for you
Everything I do
I tell you all the time
Heaven is a place on earth with you
Tell me all the things you want to do
I heard that you like the bad girls
Honey, is that true?
It's better than I ever even knew
They say that the world was built for two
Only worth living if somebody is loving you
Baby now you do

(Now you do)

It's you, it's you, it's all for you
Everything I do
I tell you all the time
Heaven is a place on earth with you
Tell me all the things you want to do
I heard that you like the bad girls
Honey, is that true?
It's better than I ever even knew
They say that the world was built for two
Only worth living if somebody is loving you
Baby now you do

The Deer Tracks - "Fra Ro Raa / Ro Ra Fraa"

I don't know what is in the water (or vodka) in Sweden... but how do they produce interesting musical acts on such a regular basis? My latest favourite Swedish band, from a growing list, is 'The Deer Tracks.' A folk-electronica duo featuring David Lehnberg & Elin Lindfors. The musical soundscapes they create are sensational... from toy instruments to thumping techno beats... but otherwise, vocal-rich electronica at its hauntingly best. "Fra Ro Raa / Ro Ra Fraa" is from their latest album 'The Archer Trilogy Part 2' released just recently. Enchanting.