Choon of the Month: Bad Guy

Original video located here. Accessed 26th April 2019

Song title: Bad Guy

Artist: Billie Eilish

Year: 2019

Why I like this song:

It's the soundtrack to some kind of demented horror movie and I think I like it

Explorations: Out of Space

Original video located here. Accessed 22nd April 2019

Song title: Out Of Space

Artist: The Prodigy

Year: 1992

Why I like this song:

Spike vs The Prodigy: Round 1
Album: Experience
Year: 1992

Like a lot of people I became aware of the Prodigy through the monumental hit that was Firestarter. Needless to say,. I was surprised that they already had two albums released. I was even more surprised, years later, to learn that their first album, Experience, is not liked by some Prodigy fans. As is my understanding, it's due to the fact it sounds very removed from the ferociousness Liam and his cohorts would build a career out of. Indeed, I knew of Out of Space and yes, it did indeed sound completely different from what was to follow. Still, maybe there was more to this band than being a punkin' instigator?

The first thing that strikes me about Experience is that it's..... well....... fun. The beats are fast, the samples are used well and the use of melodies work. It sounds like a rave and a real euphoric one at that. And, if anything it seems to be influential: I can see a lot of electronic artists since trying to replicate the sounds on this album (whereas compared to the next two albums, no one would dare try to copy).
So all in all, a decent album revealing a side to The Prodigy that isn't seen/acknowledged much and indeed capable of stepping out of the shadow of it's successors.
However even if some critics labelled this effort as 'lightweight' little did they know what was to follow.....

Nineties Revisited: Firestarter

Original video located here. Accessed 19th April 2019

Song title: Firestarter

Artist: The Prodigy

Year: 1996

Why I like this song:

Spike vs The Prodigy: Introduction (Round 0)

I've decided to set myself a challenge: Listen to the first three albums from The Prodigy. It's something I've been meaning to do for a while (and totally not inspired through Keith Flint's recent passing)/ What this means is that I will spend the next few weeks doing this challenge, exploring new territory with my musical tastes and posting my progress as I go (as well as sharing some of own experiences with these nutters).

I was in high school when the Prodigy hit big: First with the Jilted Generation album in 1994 and going from strength to strength and finally hitting monumental heights with Fat of the Land in 1997. And like most people, they came, to my attention with the success of Firestarter. I thought Firestarter was great but otherwise, The Prodigy always struck me as a band who i didn't know what to make of. Was I more into the Chemical Brothers? Was the ferocity that The Prodigy became known for a turn off? Was the interest in this band based around the fact that they looked and sounded like they came from the rough side of Electronic/Dance town, where songs about robots and Autobahns decline to tread out of fear of being curb-stomped?

Regardless, the journey starts here. Stay tuned....

Nineties Revisited: Weather With You

Original video located here. Accessed 5th April 2019

Song title: Weather With You

Artist: Crowded House

Year: 1991

Why I like this song:

So there's this new anime film coming out this July called Weathering With You.
And the first thought that comes to mind is walking 'round the room singing Stormy Weather, at 57 Mount Pleasant street....

Obituary: 20th Century

Original video located here. Accessed 5th April 2019

Song title: 20th Century

Artist: Brad

Year: 1993

Why I like this song:

R.I.P. Shawn Smith

Its doubtful I would've heard of Brad if it wasn't for the Pearl Jam connection. But this is one of their best songs. Love the moodiness and bass.
I also knew my brother really liked this song at the time and he was sorely disappointed that it wasn't one the Interiors album. In any case, here it is on this blog in all it's glory.