Nineties Revisited: Fade Into You

Original video located here. Accessed 31st August 2021

Song title: Fade Into You

Artist: Mazzy Star

Year: 1993

Why I like this song:

Back in 1999, I went out and purchased the CD Compilation Triple J's Hottest 100 no.2. One could say it was to fill a gap as I had volume 1, my brother had volume 3 and my sister had volumes 4-7. Also, I looked at the track listing and only recognized half of the names there so there was indeed some curiosity on my part. And in amongst those unfamiliar names was Mazzy Star - I played it and was immediately greeted with the voice of an angel.

Given that this came out during the height of grunge, this still sounds like nothing else. It is dream pop at it's finest and if you told me this inspired a baby boom, i would believe it XD

Choon of the Month: Rah Rah Radio

Original video located here. Accessed 26th August 2013

Song title: Rah Rah Radio

Artist: Delta Riggs

Year: 2013

Why I like this song:

These guys got my attention and they again deliver the goods, sounding as raucous as I have now come to expect. More please!

Nineties Revisited: My October Symphony

Original video located here. Accessed 20th May 2020

Song title: My October Symphony

Artist: Pet Shop Boys

Year: 1990

Why I like this song:

I am currently doing more explorations with the Pet Shop Boys. It seems their three best albums are Actually, Behaviour and Very. And yet, for a quintessentially eighties act only one of them was realised in the eighties

So Behaviour: It is a moody album to be sure - clearly the eighties were done, the party was over, and the ills of the world can't be ignored. But this album works as a document of it's era: The Cold War was over and a new bunch of concerns have emerged. And it certainly fits in with the dance music of it's time - and with the passage of time, perhaps has even aged better. 

Behaviour may be a downer of an album, compared to Actually, but it's the quite the beautiful one. 

This Song Rocks: Alfie

Original video located here. Accessed 28th August 2018

Song title: Alfie

Artist: Lily Allen

Year: 2006

Why I like this song:

I'm watching Game of Thrones at the moment and I am continually reminded of this

Back to the Eighties: Grey Day

Original video located here. Accessed 7th August 2013

Song title: Grey Day

Artist: Madness

Year: 1982

Why I like this song:

Lately I've been listening to Madness. 

Funny thing: I, like many people, may know Madness through they fun sounding songs - House of Fun and Baggy Trousers - but less is said about the quality of songwriting in their catalogue. And this is a prime example: How something that should sound depressing actually comes across as not the case,

Explorations: There She Goes

Original video located here. Accessed 8th May 2013

Song title: There She Goes

Artist: The La's

Year: 1990

Why I like this song:

Heard this song which I haven't heard in years and now I can't stop playing it. Today has been a good day

The Asian Connection: Daijoubu

Original video located here. Accessed 14th August 2023

Song title: Daijoubu

Artist: Aki Maeda

Year: 2000

Why I like this song:

Sometimes all you need is a show-stopper of a riff and this song delivers. 
So yeah, it's all in the piano part. I also like the accents provided by the sitar