Friday 31 October 2008

What's Wrong With The Mainstream - October '08

Having a holiday in September meant I was behind with my blog reading when I got back. The good news is that meant I had a wider array of songs to choose from for this month's playlist. I hope I chose the right ones.

I've added a couple more sites to the list of blogs I read down the right hand side. Added are The World Forgot and Neon Gold (that has replaced Good Weather For Airstrikes). Quite a few songs this month are from these sites so don't be shy, nip over there and see what they have to offer.

One Night In October - Little Comets

Des Lynam used to do it, in fact you could rely on him, Gary then continued the tradition and then all of a sudden it stopped. We sat there one Saturday night and suddenly it was missing. This year it was just the same. The confusion it must have cause the next morning must have been on a national scale. What am I talking about? Well the timely reminder that the clocks go back. Thankfully the Little Comets are here to remind us that the clocks go back.

MP3: One Night In October - Little Comets

Meccano - Red Light Company

Red Light Company are getting quite a lot of air play with their current single Scheme Eugene (getting a lot of play on my iPod at the moment). I'm excited as I'm going to see them at the tiny venue of The Louisiana in November. Enjoy this, their previous single.

MP3: Meccano - Red Light Company

Bitch Went Nuts - Ben Folds

This is for my good friend Q-Shoes, nothing to do with his ex (who's a lovely lady) but because he's a big fan of the piano playing maestro. I always thought he had issues (Ben not Q-Shoes) and this song just backs up my theory.

Sorry he uses the 'C' word in this, no not Christmas but funnily enough I have been called both C words on a football pitch, not sure where the guy was trying to say by calling me a Christmas tree but I was suitably offended.

MP3: Bitch Went Nuts - Ben Folds

Daylight - Matt & Kim

Another great piano based song that's doing the rounds on most blogs. Terrible band name but the song fits perfectly between the Ben Folds track and the Spinto Band song. You just thought I put these songs up in random order, shame on you! If you like this you can head over to RCRD LBL as they've got another Matt & kim song going for free.

Link: Daylight - Matt & Kim

Pumpkins & Paisley - The Spinto Band

From the band that brought you the fantastic Oh Mandy (not got it? download it Now ) a new album and not as much fuss this time. The songs alright but I've got a feeling they might not reach the heights of Oh Mandy again :-(

MP3: Pumpkins & Paisley - Spinto Band

Killer - Machines

I believe Machines have split up but that shouldn't stop me posting this song, after all "it's all about the music dude". I have to apologise as I can't remember which blog I got it off but they described them as sounding like Franz Ferdinand.

MP3: Killer - Machines

Casting Agents & Cowgirls - Busdriver

I can't put my finger on who these guys remind me of, I think at the start they sound a bit like Cypress Hill but after that I'm lost. It's something more friend Jimmy List would be in to and he like the Wu-Tang Clan.

MP3: Casting Agents & Cowgirls - Busdriver

UITC - We Plants Are Happy Plants

A track that wouldn't feel out of place in the War of the Worlds soundtrack. No words, just a dance track that's got an epic feel to it.

MP3: UITC - We Plants Are Happy Plants

When You're Not Around (Boys Noize Mix) - Frank Musik

I'm told the unremixed version of this is going to be massive. A new version of The Stranglers Golden Brown track but instead of "Golden Brown" it is "When You're Not Around". I look forward to hearing the single version.

MP3: When You're Not Around (Boys Noize Mix) - Frank Musik

I'd Be Lying - Greg Laswell

Singer-songwriter alert! I heard this the first time and wrote it off as another singer-songwriter song. It's not my type of music and James Morrison sits uneasily on my iTunes thanks to my wife. However, and it is a big however, if you don't want to walk around singing this song all day, don't listen to it. It's really catchy and much to my dismay I really like. Then again I try not to be a music snob so I hope you enjoy it too.

MP3: I'd Be Lying - Greg Laswell

Spaceman - The Killers

New material from Brandon et al. It's taken from a live performance they did on TV but I think it sounds promising.

MP3: Spaceman - The Killers

Ottoman - Vampire Weekend

MP3: Ottoman - Vampire Weekend

Paper Planes (Dskotek Remix) - M.I.A.

I've really got in to this track and I thought I'd post a remix to give you something a bit different from what the radio has been playing every five minutes.

Mp3: Paper Planes (Dskotek Remix) - M.I.A .

I Need A Life - Born Ruffians

Thanks to Winnie Cooper for this track (a blog not a character out of the wonder years, although I'm sure they're related). I actually heard an acoustic version of this on another blog first. If you like this version it might be worth you tracking the other version down.

MP3: I Need A Life - Born Ruffians

Walking On A Dream - Empire of the Sun

A blog I was reading described this as the track of 2008 so I had to give it a listen. I don't know whether it's because a lot of blogs tend to blow a lot of hot air or because every one's tastes are different but I wasn't surprised I was unimpressed by this song. Don't get me wrong it's a nice enough track but it wouldn't make my top ten of 2008. It sounds a bit like Fleetwood Mac or Midlake if you want a recent reference.

MP3: Walking On A Dream - Empire of the Sun

Back To Black (The Rumble Strips Remix) - Amy Winehouse

I believe this version's been around for a while and yes I know this songs been done to death but I thought it was worth posting. It brings a different slant on the song and it surprised me where The Rumble Strips went with it. I keep listening to it so that's a good sign.

Mp3: Back To Black (The Rumble Strips Remix) - Amy Winehouse

Ghost Town - Prodigy

I've been after this song for a while so I was grateful when Check The Availability posted it recently. Not a bad remix of the original classic.

MP3: Ghost Town - Prodigy

Mingus - I'm From Barcelona

I like songs with cities / towns in the title (they make playlists
easy) but I'm not sure about band names with Cities in them. Anyway this band talk about having a job you hate and getting home too late. Surely none of us feel like that. Oh and just because they're from Barcelona doesn't mean you can leave rude messages on their answerphone (sorry non UK readers that's a not so funny current affairs reference). Thanks to the not so differently titled "Mainstream Isn't So Bad...Is It?" blog for this track.

MP3: Mingus - I'm From Barcelona

Boneless - The Notwist

Right it's getting near 12 and it's getting near November. You'll have to wait until tomorrow for my Halloween playlist. Bet you can't wait. Anyway, enjoy The Notwist, a relaxing track that somehow gathers speed despite feeling slow.

MP3: Boneless The Notwist

Free stuff:

http://www.u-download.co.uk/ Is Universal's site for free downloads, you might want to pop along and see what they've got. There's remixes of Paris Is Burning, a Black Tide track and a Morrissey track for Schonberg and The Music remixed for Sillsy. Also a Courteeners live track and a couple of Noah and The Whale tracks. Oh and a Sugababes track, we're printing leaflets for one of their gigs at work at the moment. Wow I have an exciting job, not quite as exciting as when we printed Nelly's Pimp Juice posters but things will never be that exciting again.

The Hours are back and they are bringing in the heavy weights. Well the tall weights anyway. They have got Calvin Harris to remix their new track, not only that but they are giving away their biggest single off their first album Ali In The Jungle (can you guess who it's about?). To download it all you need to do is go to their home page and register to get their emails http://www.thehours.co.uk/

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