Song title: Paris Collides
Artist: RUFUS DU SOL
Year: 2011
Why I like this song:
Its one of those songs that seems custom made for headphones. Put it on and drift away on an ocean of snyths and vocal effects.
Original video located here. Accessed 14th December 20189/span>
Song title: How to Make Gravy
Artist: Paul Kelly
Year: 1996
Why I like this song:
Still one of the greatest Christmas songs ever written. Having a song told through the perspective of guy in the slammer sounds like a bizarre idea but it works so well here. And I still get the shiver up my spine with the last stanza: "You know one of these days / I'll be making gravy / I'll be making plenty / Gonna pay them all back...."
Original video located here. Accessed 9th December 2011
Song title: Autobahn
Artist: Kraftwerk
Year: 1974
Why I like this song:
Recently I got ahold of Kraftwerk's landmark album Autobahn.
From the outset, it seems that this album's reputation lies in it's title track: A twenty-plus minute epic that simulates a car journey and is largely recognised as a foundation stone for electronic music.
They aren't kidding.
Of course, saying so does a tremendous disservice to the rest of the album which are all superb and mark the transition point where Kraftwerk went from experimental to something more easily embraced.
Still I look forward to the day when I get to go on a long car journey and have this playing
Song title: Nobody Does it Better
Artist: Radiohead
Originally Done By: Carly Simon
Year: 1995
Why I like this song:
How's this for an awesome cover?!
Original video located here. Accessed 2nd December 2011
Song title: Reptile
Artist: The Church
Year: 1988
Why I like this song:
I said I'll look into more of the Church's discography so I took a stab at Starfish, their greatest album (apparently).
It was pretty damn good too. If the Blurred Crusade was all about the psychedelica, then this comes across as more refined, with the sound more expansive, the guitars more solid and a band that is sounding like a complete more than ever before.
Apparently this album was difficult to make but one wouldn't think it: The finished product is nothing less than a triumph.
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....
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.