3WTM April Playlist

This month I've taken the chance to further my music education by checking out current tracks as well as revisiting some older tracks. These are the best I've found.

New(ish) Tracks

First Light - Django Django



I'm not sure how I missed this one off last month's playlist. Schonberg introduced us to Django Django previously on this blog with the excellent Default. This is a lighter track, less foot stomping than Default but still has a quality to it.

Distance Past - Everything Everything



We're starting to get some sunshine and it's good to have tracks that can match that lift in mood. Give it chance it takes a bit to get going, as I write this I've had this track for a month and it's a real grower.

Hey Now - Matt and Kim



Despite the worst them having the worst band name on the planet Matt and Kim have managed to keep going and the upbeat New York duo keep the pace going with this ditty.

California - The Airborne Toxic Event



I know I keep going on about how The Airborne Toxic Event don't get enough airplay in the UK but they don't. So I'm behind most people finding out they have new material out. Check it out.

Chaucey P vs All the Girls In London - The Dandy Warhols



I've always followed The Dandy Warhols, not always liking what they've produced but they've never been that far wide of the mark. This is a pretty strong pop song, well worth a listen.

What Time Do You Call This? - Elbow



I really like Elbow, I really like Simon Pegg, how about a film with Elbow in and a song on the soundtrack by Simon Pegg! Well OK, maybe that wouldn't be good but the other way around... (it might be a tad to long but I'll let them off).

Ong Ong - Blur


I'm not a big fan of Go Out, the first new track I heard of Blur's. Don't get me wrong it's not bad but it's certainly not the track "equal to anything else in their back catalogue" as Spotify described the lead tracks off the new album. However Ong Ong had me hooked, an upbeat, summer style pop track. I think it's probably taken Damon this long to write a track like this and be comfortable enough in his own skin to let it see the light of day.

Come Home Baby - The Charlatans


Classic Charlatans, a distinctive sound that many have tried to reproduce but failed. It's nothing new but it's great that they can still acheive this level and that they're still making records. May it long continue.

Revision

I've used Spotify to look back at some bands that have featured on this blog over the years and see what they're up to now. Some haven't really produced anything since but had songs at the time that I either didn't mention or didn't even know about. In this section I'll let you know which ones are worth knowing about, new or old.

New Love - The Twang



This is what is clearly wrong with the mainstream, The Twang released a cracking debut (pop) album and yet their follow up didn't hit the same heights. That meant we didn't hear much of the second album or much of them since. While I have a feeling their distructive behaviour may have had a hand in that it has kept me from good songs such as Barney Rubble off the second album and this, New Love off the new album released at the end of last year. A new, more mature sound (not a translation for boring as can be the case) that you should check out.

Oh! - What A Glorious Thing - Akira The Don



I just happened to hear Huw Thomas on Radio 1 quite some years back (2004) as he was standing in for Zane Low. He played the Drinking Song by Akira The Don, a track commenting on the accepted nature of drinking and the not so socially accepted, less offensive act of smoking weed. I still play that song a lot so I thought I'd see if Akira had ever managed to reach the same heights. It turns out he's still creating thoughtful new material. This effort from 2006 is less social commentary more describing what he did on an average day. It's a nice upbeat track ready for the sun to come out, I even forgive him for the Lovecats element to the track.

Edwould - Larrikin Love



You may remember Larrikin Love from a playlist way back and the excellent banjo infested Happy As Annie. Sadly there isn't any new material however there appears to be an album of all the material that was created at the time. This track is similar to Happy As, strap yourself in as it starts at a lick.

I Can Make You Love Me - British India



Previous playlisters may remember British India for their track Tie Up My Hands from their 2007 debut album Guillotine. It was a strong debut but as an Australian band they don't get much coverage over here and I hadn't realised how much material they have released. I Can Make You Love Me seems to be their most popular track. It's taken from their 2012 fourth album. Last month they released their fourth album Nothing Touches Me and I've been enjoying the track Wrong Direction if you wanted more of the same.

Apple Of My Eye - Ed Harcourt



Ed Harcourt featured a while back with the excellent piano led Revolution In The Heart back in 2006 yet despite being nominated for the Mercury Music Prize back in 2001 he's never hit the mainstream. This song, taken from his debut album in 2001, Here Be Monsters is another great track that is one of those songs you just cannot see getting airplay on the radio but more people should know.

Satisfied - Esser



You've got to have a bit of fun in the playlist right? Esser appeared on the blog with I Love You. This was also off the first album, I don't think there was a second...

Tie Me Up With Jackets - Fight Like Apes


OK so Fight Like Apes may have a new album out but I'm going to introduce you to a song from 2009. Man I'm so up to date.

Further Reading

Following on from last months playlist I looked up some of the bands to see if the rest of what they've got to offer keeps the quality as high. These are the bands that made the cut which suggests they're pretty good.

Dream Lover - The Vaccines



I'm already a big fan of The Vaccines as you may know but this is something different for the band, it makes me excited as to where they can go with their music and in particular the new album. If you're not a fan this might change your mind.

The Ground Walks, With Time In A Box - Modest Mouse



I've been enjoying taking in Modest Mouse's back catalogue as they've not received the airplay in the UK that they have elsewhere. This however is one of their latest efforts and what a stonker it is. I think most regular readers of this blog will soak the 6 minutes of this track up and then put it straight back on.

The Big Bad Wolf - The Heavy


Soul rockers The Heavy featured on this blog a little while back with their track taken that was used on a Guinness ad. You may have noticed another track of their's, How You Like Me Now, being featured on another advert for clothing. I however wanted to point out The Big Bad Wolf off the same album as What Makes A Good Man. Good things do come to those who wait. Another excellent track to check out by The Heavy is Short Change Hero.

Feed The Mantaray  - Slaves



More full on ear throbbing from the two piece hailing from Kent. How difficult it will be for them to keep their sound fresh with limited instruments we will have to wait and see. Also check out their latest single Cheer Up London.

So want all the tracks in one easy playlist. Spotify it is...

Death Cab For Cutie

It's not often that I find a band in their infancy, become a firm fan and watch them go on to greatness. That is certainly the case with Death Cab For Cutie - I've come rather late to their party! Well, a couple of new songs from them appearing in the 'New Music Tuesday' playlist on Spotify caught my attention.

Firstly, Little Wanderer




and then No Room In Frame




Both really good tracks which got me really excited for their imminent new album Kintsugi. My interest was further stoked by delving into their back-catalogue. Their last album Codes and Keys is a belter as exemplified by the opening track Home Is A Fire



and Some Boys



So ... I went back another album - more great stuff, for instance, I Will Follow You Into The Dark



All boding very well for the new release ... which came out a couple of weeks ago ... and after all the anticipation ended up disappointing me slightly, and making me glad I'd listed on Spotify first before just buying it.

BUT, as is often the case, I was a bit hasty with my judgement and there's actually nothing wrong with the album. There's not a bad song on it in fact - it just doesn't dazzle.

I'm going to get to know them a bit more and will really enjoy doing so though.

This is the kind of thing I like finding - a great band with a quality back-catalogue that I'm not aware of.