Explorations: When You Were Mine

Original video located here. Accessed 28th November 2011

Song title: When You Were Mine

Artist: The Church

Year: 1982

Why I like this song:

Lately I've been becoming acquainted with The Church.
The Church are one of those Australian bands: They've been around for so long and have had numerous songs that are instantly recognisable. They have garnered respect and have never really left the public consciousness. 
Looking back at their big album from 1982, the Blurred Crusade, it strikes me just how out of step it is from other music at the time. It sounds like the jangle pop similar to the Smiths and R.E.M, but with a much harder edge. The dual guitar attack works wonders and has a creativity that puts a lot of other cats to shame - and has aged better too. 
Seems I have come across something that bears further investigation....

Choon of the Month: A Thousand Years

Original video located here. Accessed 25th November 2011

Song title: A Thousand Years

Artist: Christina Perri

Year: 2011

Why I like this song:

I never thought much of Christina's previous song Jar of Hearts so hearing this ......something else.
It has a sincerity and vulnerability that isn't heard much elsewhere and here it works wonders. 
Maybe Christina should ditch the attacks on previous boyfriends and do more like this because it seems to be more successful.

Got it Covered: Head Like a Hole

 

Original video located here. Accessed 23rd November 2011

Song title: Head Like a Hole

Artist: Devo

Originally Done By: Nine Inch Nails

Year: 1997

Why I like this song:

This shouldn't work but somehow, in it's own bonkers way, it does.

This Song Rocks: I Want to Choke Your Band

Original video located here. Accessed 21st November 2011

Song title: I Want to Choke Your Band

Artist: Beatallica

Year: 2009

Why I like this song:

Lately I've been listening to Beatallica.
As the name suggests, it's a parody band that sounds like someone tried to combine the Beatles and Metallica in some illegal mad scientist laboratory.
And the outcome is downright hilarious. 

This Song Rocks: Door to the River

Original video located here. Accessed 11th February 2017

Song title: Door to the River

Artist: Manic Street Preachers

Year: 2002

Why I like this song:

Currently dealing with a break up.
Need something to listen to.
This will do.

Nineties Revisited: Father's Day

Original video located here. Accessed 14th November 2011

Song title: Father's Day

Artist: Weddings Parties Anything

Year: 1992

Why I like this song:

Listening to the Weddo's King Tide album got me inspired so I sought out the Difficult Loves album.
If people know this album it's through this: it's lead-off single. It may sound joyous but it's not a song I can listen to easily: largely because it's told through the perspective of a divorced father as he describes his life.
Still if a song can have such power then it must be doing something right. 
I do recall back in the day this song being a sizable radio hit - which is odd considering the subject matter.

Nineties Revisited: Mondays Experts

Original video located here. Accessed 3rd July 2024

Song title: Monday's Experts

Artist: Weddings Parties Anything

Year: 1993

Why I like this song:

Recently I've been listening to Weddings Parties Anything.

I recall back in the mid-nineties these guys were having some really good hits that managed to get some radio play (and this was one of them) but they have since become forgotten. I suppose that tends to happen given the passage of time but these guys are better than that - not least through Mick Thomas' song-writing and his willingness to keep the tradition of story-telling going. 

As for this song, who can't relate to this? And it still sounds fresh years later.

Nineties Revisited: Following My Own Tracks

Original video located here. Accessed 6th April 2014

Song title: Following My Own Tracks

Artist: The Whitlams

Year: 1995

Why I like this song:

Recently I've been listening to the Whitlams album Undeniably. 

While the Whitlams became huge off of the back of Eternal Nightcap and No Aphrodisiac, it would be easy to forget that they were originally three guys: Andy, Stevie and Tim. 
I knew little of the Whitlams pre-No Aphrodisiac, bar the delightful I Make Hamburgers, so hearing this album is quite a surprise: Lead vocal and song-writing duties are split between Tim and Stevie and there is plenty of humour throughout. Certainly there are signs of the depression that dogged Stevie, not least in the above song, but this is certainly a different beast compared to what would come afterwards.
And for that reason alone, to deserves to be remembered.