Here are my favourite ten albums of 2018 with a short blurb of recommendation, a video and a playlist.
10) Living The Dream by Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators
Slash's latest album is one of the best hard rock albums in years. This is a genre I have generally stayed away from for twenty years as it seemed a pale imitation of its glory years but this is something of a revival.
9) Flow State by Tash Sultana
Talented Australian singer and multi- instrumentalist released her debut album this year and has already become well respected around the world. It's good music to chill out to.
8) Marble Skies by Django Django
Third album from UK band chock full of tasty tunes and they haven't put a foot wrong in their career to date.
7) Combat Sports by The Vaccines
The Vaccines are now on their fourth album and show no signs of slowing down or fading away.
6) Pound For Pound by The Nextmen Vs Genleman's Dub Club
Dub rhythms, horn sections, a plethera of guest vocalists and a collaboration between two English reggae groups produced this awesome album.
5) Good Mood by Ball Park Music
An Australian band from Queensland who have earned the love of Aussies over the last decade. Not sure if they have much of an international profile but their fifth album has just been voted Triple J's listeners album of the year in a national poll.
4) Little Dark Age by MGMT
MGMT had three worldwide hits on their debut album back in 2008 and then disappeared from my radar whilst they actively avoided radio friendly music and went very experimental. In January 2018 MGMT unleashed this mini epic inspired by early eighties dark synth pop and the rise of Trump.
3) SECT by Golden Features
A DJ and producer from Sydney released his debut album of excellent dance music that has more than enough interesting golden features to please those of us who don't have the energy to dance.
2) Parcels by Parcels
It's an excellent album of groovy funky electroinica from Australians based in Berlin. It sounds like the sequel to Daft Punk's Random Access Memories. Daft Punk have been quiet for five years now so Parcels can fill that void.
1) Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino by Arctic Monkeys
Arctic Monkeys have also been away for five years before this release. Whilst Alex Turner has been active with the Last Shadow Puppets the fans were keen for a follow up to AM. What they got was a surprising change of styles as Arctic Monkeys released a lounge jazz concept album about a hotel on the moon. Alex' Turner's genius has pulled this off and after initial confusion it is very rewarding album when you immerse yourself in it. Four stars out of Five.
I have compiled a spotify playlist with four tracks from each album if you want to dip in.
Each month I pluck twenty tracks from obscurity and provide them with a wider exposure among the worlds music fans in my undisputed role as leading social media influencer... As the year ends I review these and create a best of list comprising my top 40 tracks of the year. This year I have already praised these songs and want to offer you alternative views so I have sought the wisdom of fanatics, critics and internet trolls from the comment section of YouTube... 40) The Poison Tree by The Good The Bad And The Queen "I want to cry amigos" Pablo Landin 39) Sweet Release by The Coral “They now sound like Franz Ferdinand” Jamie Lester 38) Sometimes by Cub Sport “Who let this guy...thing...out of the 80’s box? You know, there’s a reason we quit listening to this crap and dressing like idiots on Miami Vice. Go forward and stop retrograding everything” Nathan Boyd 37) Faces by Holy Holy “This is so repetitive...
"Faces are faces and faces are places, Places are faces and faces and faces..." Its just someone singing "faces and faces and faces and faces over and over. Please no more, make it stop.” Maxx 36) Everybody Wants To Be Famous by Superorganism "Maybe the worst song I ever heard" tullguy
35) Like This (Radio Edit) by Protoje "im a Chinese men,not America,smokeing ganja,not crack,我也没干什么坏事儿你们凭什么抓我,卷一个大的我头脑不会发昏" Sahvy Hsu 34) Spooky by The Nextmen Vs Gentlemen’s Dub Club featuring Hollie Cook “The Doctor Who melody works ridiculously well” Subculture
33) Scream Whole by Methyl Ethel “Good Song. But nothing new here” Liam Welsh 32) We Belong Dead by Slash “Slash is literally the last person on earth I would have expected on a dubstep track,but man he’s absolutely killing it” saniopurulent 31) Dylan & Caitlin by Manic Street Preachers “Turning into The Beautiful South” Mike Thorpe 30) Severed by The Decemberists “Who are you and what have you done with my favourite alt-folk band?” Floyd
29) Worship by Golden Features
"This is a style in itself" ABII
28) Surface To Air by Django Django featuring Self Esteem
"Utter utter dippy shite" Johnny Christmas
27) Walking All Day by Graham Coxon
"This song is how I feel today - shit" Johnny Grogan
26) Seize The Day by The Herbalist
No Comments
25) Pulsar by Ride
“Love this cover of Sweet Child O’ Mine” Chris Waistle
24) Rudeboy by Nextmen Vs Gentlemen’s Dub Club
“Cultural Appropriation at it’s finest” Laura Hayes
23) The Heart Is A Muscle by Gang Of Youths
“Meh, Arcade Fire did it better” Jesse Delaney
22) Our Love by Sloan Peterson "💖" Erin R
21) Call If You Need Me by Vance Joy
"Australia's answer to Chris Isaac" Julie Norgrove
20) Black Flowers by Reverend and the Makers
“Mucking Fagic” Ian Buchanan
19) Bad Got Me Good by Gin Wigmore
“Experiment with psychobilly please :)” Malcolm Scally 18) Black Moon Rising by Black Pumas "Sounds Like Ceelo Green at his worst. also out of tune." teragraML 17) Star Treatment by Arctic Monkeys "Play it on 1.5x and hear Alex rapping" Anjastuh 16) I Am A Dog by Ball Park Music “I just don’t like that chorus lyrics. I just don’t like it” The lead singer’s dad 15) Walking To Oman’s by Fraser A. Gorman "No more Bob Dylan's hairstyle" leql 14) Jinglin’ Janglin’ by Fort Knox Five No comments 0👎 13) My Antidote by Slash, Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators “Heard it all before...This band are so boring.” Dan Kozak
12) 1933 by Frank Turner “Personally I believe the political message to this song to be a pretty cliche and over exaggerated but I enjoy the song so meh” legoWithASliceOfCheese 11) Talking Straight by Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever "Not bad, nothing new" Lukas
10) Lay It Down by Black Gold Buffalo
"Nice sound" DX Satellite Rock
9) You Worry Me byNathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats "This song is the bane of my existence. Its literally on every radio station and it sucks." blumpkinfest
8) Your Love Is My Favourite Band by The Vaccines "This band is terrible" Malori Williams
7) Me and Michael by MGMT “*Michael and I” Nick Steinbring
6) Bullet Proof by This Is The Kit "So magical, I'm in love, I love it 😍" The Brokenscene Queen 5) Silvery Sometimes (Ghosts) by The Smashing Pumpkins "2079" Cambaudio 4) Out The Window by Confidence Man “This song is like the whole of summer 1990 distilled into a single track. Love it.” Steve Berry 3) Tieduprightnow by Parcels "Surely they aren't Australian?" Inaya Zubair
2) In The Air by The DMA’s "Emotional Chav" 3 incher
1) Tranquility Base Hotel And Casino by Arctic Monkeys “Jazz??? My ass this is elevator music at best!!!” Tamar Wahab
Merry Christmas Music Lovers
Here is a Spotify playlist to get you into the festive spirits.
A mixture of originals largely from indie rock bands and the second half is a bunch of Christmas covers. It’s the most wonderful time of the year...
These are the twenty tracks that have pushed their way to the top over the last month just in time to appear on my final monthly mixtape. But expect plenty more over the next month as I will work on the end of year best of mixtapes and maybe a few bonus playlists from my Eighties retrospectives. Years 1977 to 1984 are already out there and I will turn my attention to 85 next.
Merry Christmas
1) My Antidote by Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators
Slash appears on my playlist twice in subsequent months. A huge return to form after 25 years of obscurity. This is pure rock music and reminds me of "You Could Be Mine" era GN'fR!!!!
2) Lips Like Sugar (Transformed) by Echo & The Bunnymen
This is a re-recording of a 1987 single but much better than the original which I hadn't heard before. Taken from an album of re-recorded hits by E&TB.
3) New Direction by Sloan Peterson
Indie rock in the best tradition - short, punky, spunky, catchy riffs and great lyrics.
4) My Friend's A Liquid by Psychedelic Porn Crumpets
Perth band who have dialled down the fuzz guitars and are headed in a more commercial direction - for them. Now they sound as commercial as King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard. KG&TLW have taken 2018 off after releasing five albums in the previous year but I expect they have been recording at their usual work rate so expect new albums soon.
5) Something For The Pain by She Drew The Gun
Marxist pop so probably not very popular but another great protest song.
6) My Hands by Running Touch
A dark and deep dance track by this Melbourne producer.
7) Santa's Comin' Down The Chimney by Confidence Man
A very catchy beat and one of the cheekiest Christmas singles since The Darkness sang "Christmas Time - Don't Let The Bells End".
8) Hope You Found What You've Been Missing by Cults
Haunting tune from Cults - do I hear sleigh bells in the mix? Crafty bastards - that always works on me at this time of year.
9) The Poison Tree by The Good The Bad And The Ugly
After eleven years this band resurfaces with four grumpy men moaning about Brexit Britain and the music is largely unbearable. This closing album track is the exception - a real Damon tearjerker.
10) Bison On The Plains by Grandaddy
A new single from the recently reformed American band.
11) Back For Good by The Wedding Present
Perth will host a friendly game next year between Man Utd and Leeds Utd. In this warm up The Wedding Present (Leeds) take on a Nineties hit from Take That (Manchester).
12) Stars Around My Heart by Steve Mason
Feel good music from the former Beta Band head honcho.
13) She Works Out Too Much by MGMT
An album track taken from the Little Dark Age album about the breakup of a relationship caused by gym membership.
14) All My Friends Are Falling In Love by The Vaccines
New single not included on their 2018 Combat Sports album.
15) For The Record by Winston Surfshirt
Australia's Winston Surfshirt release some fresh Summer vibes.
16) Rudeboy by The Nextmen Vs Gentlemen's Dub Club featuring Gardna
Taken from the excellent Pound for Pound album.
17) Out Of Place by The Delta Riggs
Aussie indie rockers who are not evolving musically at all. However, if you liked them last time then you will again.
18) Brighton Pier by Razorlight
Over ten years since their last album and Razorlight are back and on top form. I've enjoyed all the new tracks I've heard so far and will be listening to their new album soon to check if its as good as I hope.
19) Leave Me Lonely by Hilltop Hoods
New track from the biggest group in Australian Hip Hop. Get ready for their new album The Great Expanse in February 2019.
20) Zombie Bastards by Weezer
Taken from Weezer's Black Album - an instant classic "Die! Die! You Zombie Bastards!"
Ah 1984! The Mid-Eighties - when popular songs dealt with the drugs, racism, famine, homophobia, war, the afterlife and going to nightclubs, standing on your own and leaving on your own. But it wasn't all social commentary and right-on politics some established artists like Paul Weller just wanted to shout to the top in a repetitive manner and the fledgling Red Hot Chili Peppers were just enthusiastic about jumping. Good times!
1) Original SinbyINXS
This song is about social conditioning and growing up with the beliefs of your parents. It was produced by Chic guitarist Nile Rodgers who suggested introducing the interracial relationship which in 1984 was considered controversial enough to get the song banned from several US radio stations. It was a number one hit single in Australia and France and heralded the arrival of their fourth album The Swing.
2) The Killing Moon by Echo & The Bunnymen
Echo and the Bunnymen’s Ian McCulloch humbly describes this as “the best song ever written”. Undoubtedly it the best song ever written by him. He hasn’t described what the lyrics mean preferring to keep it mysterious and allowing the listeners to reach their own conclusions. Ian said the “Fate up against your will” refrain was influenced by “To Be Or Not To Be”. Typically Ian thinks his lyrics surpass William Shakespeare’s.
3) Thieves Like Us by New Order Peter Hook rates this as New Order’s greatest song. Appropriately for a song called Thieves Like Us, Hooky admits he stole the baseline from a 1974 Hot Chocolate song called Emma. 4) Sunlight Bathed The Golden Glow by Felt Felt released ten albums between 1982 and 1989 before they disbanded leaving a distraught cult following. They were too cult for me so I was unaffected at the time.
5) Shout To The Top by The Style Council Paul Weller takes his brand of white soul elevator music and sings "shout to the top" over it.
6) How Soon Is Now? by The SmithsT his classic Smiths track was originally released as a B-Side to William, It Was Really Nothing. A distinctive guitar intro displaying some of Johnny Marr's tightest riffs and some of Morrissey's bleakest lyrics. A firm favourite of bedsitters wallowing in their self imposed isolation.
7)A Sort Of HomecomingbyU2
The rousing opening track from U2’s fourth album. The lyrics include powerful imagery of bomb-blasts, explosions, fields of mourning and crucially “the land grows weary of its own”. But the message is of overcoming the troubles tearing down walls and building bridges.
8) Don’t Go Back To (Rockville) by R.E.M. The Rockville in brackets could be replaced with any small town and the songs warns against moving backwards, wasting your time and getting stuck in a one horse town. A sort of homecoming to be avoided. 9) White Lines (Don't Do It) by Melle Mel & The Furious Five
Grandmaster Flash had already left the group over a dispute about the royalties from their previous hit The Message. Grandmaster Melle Mel, the leader of the Furious Five penned this social commentary on cocaine. To make it commercially acceptable Melle Mel cynically inserted the “don’t do it” refrain. Flash called out this hypocrisy saying “Now the guys are saying no to drugs on this new record, but I bet they’re out looking for the dope man just like me.” The music was a re-recorded cover of a song called Cavern by liquid Liquid.
Incidentally the story about the businessman caught with drugs and released on bail was based on John DeLorean owner of the iconic 80s car.
10) Born In The USA by Bruce Springsteen I always used to turn this off thinking it was an awful piece of jingoistic crap with his arse on the cover. It was only recently that I listened to the lyrics and realised it was actually a story about the psychological fallout of the kids drafted into the Vietnam War, brutalised and rejected by their society when they returned - with his arse on the cover. 11) Smalltown Boy by Bronski Beat An autobiographical story from Jimmy Somerville about getting away from the gay-bashing provinces and seeking a new life in more cosmopolitan city. 12) Looking From A Hilltop by Section 25 A band five years ahead of their time - the opening beat sounds like The Shamen circa 1990. This is a Blackpool band on the Factory Records label. 13) I Walk Away by Split Enz By 1984 Tim Finn had quit the band and his younger brother Neil had taken over as the main songwriter. I Walk Away was a taken from the final Split Enz album which was only released in Australia and New Zealand. Neil Finn loved the song but felt it was overproduced and it was re-recorded as a stripped down version two years later and included on the first Crowded House album. Whilst the best version is obviously subjective, and debate rages in some very nerdy corners of the internet, my preference is the Split Enz version.
14) The Caterpillar by The Cure
The Caterpillar was the only single taken from The Top - a collection of psychedelic Cure rock songs mixing paranoia, pop and Eastern influences with mixed results.
15) Plateau by The Meat Puppets A song about searching for the promised land or the afterlife and when you reach it there’s “nothing on top”. A big influence on Nirvana who later toured together and performed this and two other Meat Puppet songs with them on their MTV Unplugged appearance. 16) Let's Go Crazy by Prince Prince had a more uplifting view of the afterlife. Starting with organs and a sermon on never ending happiness in the next life, Prince advised enjoying your mortal life before the grim reaper visits you.
17) 2 Minutes To Midnight by Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden’s song about the Atomic Armageddon Clock and the vested interests of the military industrial complex pushing the nuclear arms race. It was released against a backdrop of increasing high tension between the West and the Soviet Union in the early eighties. President Reagan described the Soviets as an Evil Empire after the Russians invaded Afghanistan in 1980 and the US announced the development of a spaced based missile defence system dubbed Star Wars in 1983.
18) Two Tribes - Annihilation Mix by Frankie Goes To Hollywood
Two Tribes covers the same theme with pounding rhythms, American funk, Russian strings and a huge chorus. It spent 9 weeks at Number 1 in the UK and was a global hit. I had the 12” and liked the air raid sirens, Ronald Reagan impersonations provided by Chris Barrie and apocalyptic yet calming public service announcements about radiation fallout and tagging your dead grandmother.
19) Get Up And Jump by Red Hot Chili Peppers This is the debut single from LA punk funk band Red Hot Chili Peppers. 20) Do They Know It's Christmas Time? by Band Aid
This charity record to raise money for the Ethiopian famine was written and recorded in a rush to be released in time for Christmas. Midge Ure of Ultravox and Bob Geldof of The Boomtown Rats collected their pop/rock star friends (Sting, U2, Bananarama, Duran Duran, Boy George) and gave them lines to sing. The charity record raised over eight million pounds in a month and became the UK’s highest selling single holding that record for 13 years. They followed Band Aid with the Live Aid concerts in 1985 to raise more funds.
This is the third anniversary of the Old Indie Kid Mixtape series. So celebrate with some new tunes.
1) We Belong Dead by Slash
You wait two and a half decades for Slash to do something epic and he releases a great rock album with Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators and a horror soundtrack which sounds like a collaboration with Skrillex. Have nightmares!
2) Silvery Sometimes (Ghosts) by The Smashing Pumpkins
The Smashing Pumpkins have released a few new tracks since they reformed but this is the first one that can compare to their Siamese Dream / Mellon Collie output.
3) Black Moon Rising by Black Pumas
Drum roll introduction for the Black Pumas debut single. They are a psychedelic soul band from Austin Texas and one to watch.
4) Retreat2018 by Chase & Status & Cutty Ranks
This drum n bass track takes me back to the early 90's. It wouldn't feel out of place on the Prodigy's Experience.
5) Jinglin' Janglin' by Fort Knox Five K-Lab
The sound of Funk being extra funky.
6) White Coats by Baxter Dury, Etienne de Crecy & Delilah Holliday
Baxter's distinctive Laandan vocals are excellent here and it is groovy thanks to the Etienne de Crecy's French disco sound.
7) Beyond The Outskirts by Suede
I saw a very funny spoof documentary of Suede this week - watch this.
8) Atlas Please by Gengahr
A new single from a band I have never tried to pronounce. Luckily Gengahr don't come up much in conversations.
9) Withorwithout by Parcels
Finally Parcels released their debut album and I've been playing it on repeat. Sounds like Daft Punk and will be a contender for album of the year.
10) Sometimes by Cub Sport
Going from strength to strength Cub Sport sound very now and occasionally I am open to sounds that emerged after 1997.
11) There Will Come A Time by Orbital featuring Professor Brian Cox
Orbital are fans of The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy and they teamed up with D:Ream's keyboard player to be the voice of The Book in their own space epic.
12) First World Problems by Ian Brown
Nine years since his last solo material due to the revival of The Stone Roses. I didn't like this at first but it is growing on me. His new album Ripples is scheduled for release in March.
13) Bassackwards by Kurt Vile
The bass is sampled backwards on this ten minute epic taken from Kurt's latest album Bottle It In.
14) Innocence Module (UK Mix) by Null
Australian producer Hayden Quinn has just released his debut album Med which includes this pulsating slab of acid trance.
15) Like This (Radio Edit) by Protoje
Token reggae track from perennial favourite Protoje. This radio edit removes the annoying and ill advised chatting intro found on the album version.
16) Sixteen Days by Pond
Western Australian psychedelic indie rock is always a pleasure to promote.
17) Can't Forget by The Lemonheads
A new song - it's a cover I believe from Evan Dando and friends.
18) When I Dream by San Cisco
Great new single from a local Aussie indie pop band.
19) Perfect Person by Mystic Braves
The best thing about this is it sounds like classic Teenage Fanclub.
20) White Star Liner by Public Service Broadcasting
A titanic new single that will probably sink without trace. Too soon?
This month I have focused exclusively on Australian music.
Twenty new songs from a Land Down Under.
1) Our Place by Verge Collection
Verge Collection have released their debut album this year although this is an earlier single that makes me smile from ear to ear.
2) Scream Whole by Methyl Ethel
Fresh psychedelic music from Perth's Methyl Ethel, the first from their forthcoming third album.
3) Outlaw by Deep Sea Arcade
It has been six years since the debut album of DSA and it appears a second may be imminent. That is a gap longer than the Stone Roses took to record the Second Coming. Still it could be quicker than the sixteen years that the Avalanches took.
4) Our Love by Sloan Peterson
Sloan is a singer/songwriter from Sydney as she's ace!
5) Shoot The Breeze by Thundamentals
This Aussie Hip Hop act has been around for ten years now and this stoner's song is taken from their sixth album - I Love Songs.
6) Fake That by The Delta Riggs
Australian Indie Rock coming out of Melbourne. Does what it says on the tin.
7) Talking Straight by Rolling Blackouts, Coastal Fever
Melbourne indie rock band - taken from their debut album Hope Downs.
8) Worship by Golden Features
Sydney dance music producer who released his impressively intense debut album SECT in July.
9) Graceville by Strangely Enough
I know nothing about this band but what I can piece together from Spotify is they have released two singles and have 32 monthly listeners. I am one of two people who listen to them in Perth. I wonder if these stats will be boosted by featuring them in this blog? Probably not.
10) Exactly How You Are by Bell Park Music
Another track lifted from their treasure trove fifth album - Good Mood.
11) Treaty '18 by Youthu Yindi, Gavin Campbell featuring Baker Boy
Originally written in the late 1980s this political song from Aboriginal band Youthu Yindi from the Northern Territory's Arnham Land has been re-recorded with additional raps from Baker Boy.
12) Seven by Tash Sultana
Tash is very talented and has produced a number of excellent tracks over the last few years. Her debut album has just been released and is good background music for stroking your hipster beard. However, this instrumental shoots off in all directions and is a sublime piece of music.
13) Lightenup by Parcels
The Byron Bay band relocated to Berlin and have worked with their disco heroes including Nile Rodgers, Daft Punk and Giorgio Moroder. They have released many awesome singles over the years and are presumably working on a album that will propel them into the mainstream.
14) Faces by Holy Holy
A new direction ahead of their third album - doesn't sound like their earlier material but the quality is just as high.
15) Embracing Me by SAFIA
This laid back electronic song was actually released a couple of years ago but I only discovered it recently so I'm going to allow it. My blog - my rules and I can ignore them when I feel like it.
16) Deserve by Ivan Ooze
Melbourne hip hopper getting what he deserves.
17) Clark Griswold by Hilltop Hoods featuring Adrian Eagle
The Hilltop Hoods team up with a fellow Adelaide singer on this track celebrating being a dad.
18) Undecided by JEFFE
Brooding second single from electronic indie artist from Sydney.
19) Such Great Heights by Cub Sport
Brisbane band with a chilling cover of this classic originally recorded by American band The Postal Service back in 2003.
20) We Are The People by Tia Gostelow
Another cover but this time an all Aussie affair with the song originally written by Empire of the Sun and covered here by the Queenslander in the Triple J studios for Like A Version.
This month the guitars have taken a backseat making room for lots of reggae, dub, drum n bass and Welsh Gansta Rap. This blog was accidentally deleted so I had to do it again and second time around I couldn't be bothered to rewrite additional info or witty comments for all the songs - so you will have to use your imagination - Appreciated ;-)
1) Kontraband by Kabaka Pyramid & Damien Marley
Mr Pyramid appears twice on this playlist - he he is with one of Bob Marley's sons.
2) Cry On My Guitar by Miles Kane
A glam rock shuffle with a random fight video.
3) Run Out Of Time by Mystic Braves
L.A. 60's influenced band have just released their latest LP The Great Unknown.
4) See You Next Tuesday by The Nextmen Vs Gentleman's Dub Club
Cheeky track taken from their excellent album Pound for Pound.
5) No Fenke Fenke by Yardcore ft Shanique Marie & Kabaka Pyramid
Mr Pyramid's second entry - Fenke means "Puny" in Jamaican slang - I had to look it up.
6) Rebel Lion by Freestylers ft K-OSS
Reggae drum n bass from the UK.
7) Need Some1 (Friction Remix) by The Prodigy
The Prodigy's new single provides extra drum n bass and the now obligatory Friction Remix.
8) Trapped by Underworld ft Iggy Pop
The one where Iggy berates mortgage holders.
9) Sticky Dub by Sons Of Dub
10) You Look So Fine (Fun Lovin Criminals Remix) by Garbage
11) Wasted Years by Ryan Adams
Acoustic cover of Iron Maiden's 1986 single.
12) Loading Zones by Kurt Vile
Everyone's favourite stoner troubadour rambles through his stream of semi-consciousness.
13) Lessons by Protoje
14) Sweet Like Chocolate by Hollie Cook
15) Dub Like Chocolate by Hollie Cook
16) There's A Reason Why (I Never Return Your Calls) (Satin Jackets Remix) by Blossoms
17) Moonshine Freeze (Drones Club Remix) by This Is The Kit
18) Put Your Money On Me (Steve Mackey Remix) by Arcade Fire
The Arcade Fire's last album was produced by Steve Mackay from Pulp and Thomas from Daft Punk.
19) Resister by She Drew The Gun
20) Auf Wiedershen Mate by Goldie Lookin Chain
The Welsh Rap collective with their Brexit breakup song sampling Dry Your Eyes by The Streets - originally released in 2016 but still topical today.
The Eighties are well under way here and a strong alternative scene was thriving. New Order started dancing and fellow Mancunians The Smiths began their five year dominance of indie. Liverpool unleashed Frankie Goes To Hollywood, from America R.E.M. and Talking Heads led the college radio scene and all around excellent alternative bands were busy releasing yearly albums at a work rate that would shame today's bands.
1) Blue Monday by New Order (Factory)
New Order still refused to include their singles on their albums so Blue Monday was only available as a single. The floppy disc sleeve with cut out sections cost more to produce than they sold it for. It became the best selling 12-inch single of all time selling over 700,000 copies in 1983 and cost Factory Records a fortune. Created as a song that could be played by the machines while the band went to the bar early it heralded the indie dance crossover and served as the blueprint for Madchester.
2) This Is The Day by The The (Epic)
Another classic song that was not popular at the time but its quality shines through the decades. Harmonicas were all the rage in '83.
3) Hand in Glove by The Smiths (Rough Trade)
The brilliant debut single by The Smiths released on Rough Trade was not the huge hit single that Morrissey and Marr were expecting. It reached #124 in the charts. After it appeared on their debut album and was re-recorded with Sandie Shaw on vocals it did make the charts the following year.
4) Mad World by Tears for Fears (Phonogram)
A new wave hit taken from their debut album. It was covered twenty years later for the soundtrack of the movie Donnie Darko and it became a #1 single for Michael Andrews and Gary Jules.
5) A New England by Billy Bragg (Utility)
Folk protest singer Billy Bragg wrote this a year before it was a hit for Kirsty MacColl. This original only had two verses but Kirsty asked him to write another verse for her cover version.
6) This Is Not A Love Song by Public Image Limited (Virgin)
This was Public Image Limited's biggest hit single reaching the top 5 in the UK charts. PiL were formed by John Lydon a.k.a. Johnny Rotten after he left the Sex Pistols. PiL had started to head in a more commercial direction and this song was written as a response to their fans who believed they were selling out.
7) Dear Prudence by Siouxsie and the Banshees (Polydor)
Their second cover of a Beatles White Album song after Helter-Skelter. Robert Smith of The Cure had joined the Banshees for two separate tours during their early years and wanted to appear on a Banshees record so suggested they released this cover which became their biggest hit.
8) Sugar Hiccup by Cocteau Twins (4AD)
Scottish rock band drench this track with lush guitars and nonsensical vocals and possibly invent dream pop. I was listening to this track heavily years later whilst trying to feed my baby son mashed fruit and in my mind the lyrics will forever be "banana throw-up".
9) Burning Down The House by Talking Heads (Sire)
This was the result of Talking Heads attending a Parliament-Funkadelic gig and trying to emulate them.
10) Southern Mark Smith (Big Return) by The Jazz Butcher (Glass)
Name checking the leader of the Fall is one way to remain obscure and the Jazz Butcher achieved this easily. And they went on to repeat this feat many times resulting in an obscure career. However some members went on to star in The Woodentops.
11) Radio Free Europe by R.E.M. (Hib-tone)
Their debut single from 1981 re-recorded for their 1983 debut album "Murmur" it helped establish R.E.M. as a big band on the US College Radio circuit. The lyrics were largely improvised and mumbled which would be Michael Stipe's preferred vocal method until the Mid-80's.
12) Testify by Stevie Ray Vaughan (T-Neck)
Stevie Ray Vaughan sounds like the Jimi Hendrix of the 1980s and you can see what John Squire was aiming for on The Second Coming.
13) Sixty Eight Guns by The Alarm (I.R.S.)
Originally called The Toilets in 1977 these Welsh punks went through many line ups and several name changes (Quasimodo, Seventeen and Alarm Alarm) before they became The Alarm in 1981. This was their biggest hit and was inspired by a book on 1960's Glasgow Street Gangs. The Alarm are still touring and recording music but I've never heard anything else by them.
14) New Year's Day by U2 (Island)
Taken from the War album, a song about the Polish Solidarity labour union movement which opposed the Communist Government.
15) Temple Of Love by Sisters Of Mercy (Merciful Release)
Gothic rock band formed in Leeds in 1980 who released several singles and three albums between 1980 and 1993. Their biggest hit was an epic 1992 remix of this early single but here it is in the original form.
16) 99 Luftballons by Nena (Epic)
An anti-war song from West Berlin - It was re-recorded into English as 99 Red Balloons but the original was sung in German and tells a story of 99 air balloons being released on the border of the Iron Curtain which a pilot shoots down and this escalates into a full scale war.
17) Temptation by Heaven 17 (Virgin)
Formed when some members of The Human League split away. Great dance tune which later featured in the disco scene in the film Trainspotting.
18) The Love Cats by The Cure (Friction)
One of the first happy poppy songs released by The Cure. Unfortunately if you listen to the lyrics "Into the sea, you and me", is a reference to drowning cats in a bag. Still they were definitely lightening up and subverting the mainstream. 19) Relax by Frankie Goes To Hollywood (ZTT)
Liverpool's FGTH originally released Relax in October '83. It would sell millions of copies all over the world and become one of the biggest hits of the decade. It was the first of their trio of epic singles covering the topical issues of the Mid-Eighties: gay sex, nuclear war and horny vampires.
20) The Trooper by Iron Maiden (EMI)
Maiden's Eighties output was very educational. This single details the battle of the Balaclava in 1854 with a retelling of Lord Tennyson's poem The Charge of the Light Brigade.
This month's playlist has been a hard one to compile due the amount of awesome music I've stumbled over. I've picked twenty of the best songs and remixes which have either moved me or got me moving.
1) Idaho by Gorillaz
Their latest album The Now Now is a more low key affair without the hundreds of rappers who crowded their previous effort, Humanz. This allows 2D or Damon's voice to take centre stage and often it sounds more like Blur.
2) As You Said Your So Longs by El Goodo
A 60's influenced Welsh dream pop band - friends of the Super Furry Animals. Very similar sound to the Cosmic Rough Riders if anyone remembers them.
3) Demon Is A Monster by Cornershop
This funky instrumental was used as the theme music to one of my favourite podcasts so happy to share it.
4) Black Magic by Baker Boy ft Dallas Woods
Arnhem Land's Baker Boy is back rapping in both English and his native tongue over indigenous instruments and an epic riff. Sending a middle finger to Australia's politicians.
5) Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino by Arctic Monkeys
It's certainly a departure from their previous sound but their sixth album is very rewarding and has been on high rotation over the last few months.
6) Out The Window (Andrew Weatherall Remix) by Confidence Man
The original was featured on this blog a few months ago and at the time I said it sounded like Primal Scream. And now Andrew Weatherall has remixed it so it sounds even more like Screamadelica.
7) Cactus (Boxed In Desert Mix) by Teleman
This is another tune that I featured the original on a recent playlist and it is included again because of another wicked remix.
8) Dancing (Dawn Wall Remix) by Friction ft JP Cooper
Drum N Bass star Friction given a banging remix treatment by Dawn Wall.
9) Downtown Shutdown by The Presets
Electro-pop from Australia's dance act.
10) You Worry Me by Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats
Another mature rock number very reminiscent of Kings of Leon.
11) Too Little Too Late by Miles Kane
Damn catchy power punk pop - what's not to like?
12) Mambo Rap by Parov Stelar
A talented Austrian (not Australian) musician with a mambo beat and amusing lyrics. It's a banger!
13) Double Denim by Helen Love
They haven't changed in quarter of a century and seem destined to rewrite the same song forever. Gotta love them for it. They have never sold out - perhaps no-one would buy them!
14) Burnt Out Star by Pond
Perth's Pond have returned with an eight minute space prog rock opus.
15) Ready Now by The Cat Empire
This has Triple J's Hottest Hundred written all over it.
16) My Own Sunshine by Fraser A. Gorman
Heart-jerking sad song which builds to an uplifting end.
17) Civil War by A-Sides Club
An Australian indie super-group comprising members of Boy & Bear, The Whitlams, All Our Exes Live In Texas and Hot Spoke. They have just released their second album comprised of Guns N Roses cover versions. This song was originally released by GNR in 1990 and the album is well worth a deeper dive.
18) Texas by Mallrat
Talented Aussie indie singer songwriter with another track from her In The Sky EP.
19) Works Every Time by Mini Mansions
LA band return with their first new song in three years, and it's a corker.
20) Oh Dear! by Gruff Rhys
SFA frontman with another catchy song from the excellent orchestral pop Babelsberg album.
By 1982 indie music was heading in numerous directions - old punks were branching out into pop, jazz, funk, dance and erm ...poetry. Hip Hop also got political and the Falklands War inspired several of the songs on this playlist.
1) Rip It Up by Orange Juice
Edwyn Collins Scottish indie band takes a poppy soul direction whilst singing about his favourite Buzzcocks song.
2) Carnival Of Sorts (Boxcars) by R.E.M.
Taken from their debut Chronic Town E.P., R.E.M. emerged from Athens Georgia as a mumbling art rock party band and went on to become one of the great rock bands of the Twentieth Century.
3) A Strange Day by The Cure
The Cure had evolved from a post punk band into masters of minimalism and on their fourth album they went full blown gloomy goth. After this they evolved again adding chirpy guitar pop to their repertoire and started troubling the charts with a string of catchy singles.
4) The Missionary by Josef K
Another Scottish band on the Postcard label who recorded this spiky single during a John Peel Session, released it and then split up.
5) Suburban Home by Descendents
L.A. band with witty lyrics celebrating being average in a furious punk racket. "I wanna be a clone, I wanna suburban home".
6) Jet Set Junta by The Monochrome Set
Recorded in the aftermath of the Falklands War, this is a great poppy satirical song.
7) The One Thing by INXS
INXS began as the Farriss Brothers oiginally formed in 1977 in Perth Western Australia. By 1980 they had renamed themselves for their debut album and this early classic displays all the elements that they would be known for - synthesizers, guitars, drums, big choruses and err...saxophone solos.
8) Are You Ready by Crispy Ambulance
On Manchester's Factory Records label they released a handful of singles and one album but were unfairly panned by the critics of trying to be Joy Division as they shared the same manager and label.
Tony Wilson Factory Records owner said they had the worst band name of all time.
9) Blister In The Sun by Violent Femmes
One hit wonder from this Milwaukee band. But what a great hit!
10) Temptation by New Order
Producer Martin Hannett was largely responsible for the Joy Division sound and whilst he produced New Order's 1981 debut album Movement, he failed to hide his contempt for the band members who weren't Ian Curtis. When New Order started programming sequencers and drum machines and producing their own records they soon decided they were better off without Hannett. They released a trilogy of seminal electronic tracks Everything's Gone Green, Temptation & Blue Monday. New Order rarely played encores and decided they should program some songs that the machines could play so they could knock off early.
11) Lucinda by A Certain Ratio
A great Mancunian indie funk workout released on Tony Wilson's Factory Records label.
12) The Message by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
This was one of the first political hip hop tracks. Before this it was mostly party music with daft rhymes then they decided they could put a social message on their records and changed the direction of hip hop and rap.
13) Town Called Malice by The Jam
The Jam had been together for six years and Paul Weller was more interested in expanding his musical horizens beyond their punk origins. The motown and jazz influences of The Jam's later work were alienating some of the band's fanbase and when Paul Weller decided that his band mates lacked the musicianship to match his artistic vision, he decided to end The Jam in 1982.
14) Under The Big Black Sun by X
Another melodic LA punk band that was largely ignored by the mainstream - they were around fifteen years earlier than Nirvana and it may have been a different story if they had been contemporaries.
15) Down Under by Men At Work
Reggae inspired, Australian New Wave band who enjoyed their Vegemite and spliffs in equal measures.
16) Urban Struggle by The Vandals
Punk cowboy anthems is a genre I never expected to discover.
17) Over The Edge by Wipers
Powerful alt-rock from Portland, Oregon.
18) Six Months In A Leaky Boat by Split Enz
One of my favourite songs by Split Enz which was written by Tim Finn inspired by his unhappy experiences of his short lived marriage. Banned in the UK during the Falkland's War as they didn't want to hear songs about leaky boats.
19) Shipbuilding by Robert Wyatt
Keeping on a nautical theme is this anti-war protest song based in a port where the local population scrape a living working for the military industrial complex.
20) Cocktails by Attila The Stockbroker
British poet who recorded this brilliant take down of the early 80's yuppy scene - hilariously vicious.
Welcome to July and its a wonder I managed to uncover any new music whilst being preoccupied with the FIFA World Cup - but I did and here you go - some tunes to soundtrack the knock out stages!
1) Burnout by The Lulu Raes
What can I tell you about the Lulu Raes that hasn't already been said? Well I have never mentioned them before and all I can tell you they are an Aussie indie pop band.
2) Tools Down by The Presets
Now this is funny! If you think Daft Punk's "Technologic" if it was covered by The Village People then you are in the ballpark.
3) Make Time by Mallrat
Brisbane's Mallrat (aka Grace Shaw) with a track from her latest EP.
4) Visions by Stonefield
Another space rock classic lifted from their Far From Earth album.
5) Mainland by Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever
RBCF have been releasing singles out of Melbourne for the last few years and their debut album "Hope Downs" has just been released and is a decent effort.
6) Romantic by Hooverphonic
Belgium's answer to Portishead is a more radio friendly orchestral brand of trip hop. Nice!
7) I'm Your Man by Spiritualized
This is the first new music from Spiritualized in six years - hopefully more to come soon.
8) Looking For Love (Instrumental) by Chromatics
This is the instrumental B-Side to their latest single - offence to their singer - this is better.
9) The Club by Gruff Rhys
This is the fifth solo album from the Super Furry Animals singer and he has included lush orchestration to his latest work. This is a tale of being thrown out of a club which is surely a metaphor for something not explicitly stated.
10) Inkolelo by Subjective (akaGoldie & James Davidson)
This track samples African rhythms and vocals and is the work of Jungle legends Goldie and James Davidson. Mr Bullion's African Adventures.
11) It's A Trap by Ash
A beautiful soaring song from the Northern Ireland's poppy punks who are now, if you can believe it, in their twenty-fourth year of their recording career!
12) Hold Unknown by Dinosaur Jr
I don't even want to work out how long Dinosaur Jr have been going - I'm feeling old enough just thinking about Ash!
13) Spooky by The Nextmen Vs Gentlemen's Dub Club featuring Holly Cook
This is taken from an excellent album "Pound for Pound" full of British reggae, dancehall and rap influences with a smattering of guest vocalists. My album of the month.
14) The Comedown Was Real by Drapht featuring Indoor Fins
Lifted from the "Arabella Street" EP by Perth's leading skip hop artist.
15) And I Was A Boy From School by Tears For Fears
A faithful cover of the Hot Chip single.
16) Cry Little Sister by Marilyn Manson
Not a fan of MM but I did enjoy this cover the original was on the 1987 Lost Boys Soundtrack.
17) The Unforgiven by Alborosie featuring Raging Fyah
This is unusual and I haven't decided yet if it is inspired or a crime against music. I suspect the latter but I can't help listening to it.
18) Hi Hello by Johnny Marr
Echoes of The Smiths "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out"on this track taken from his third solo album "Call The Comet".
19) Salvation by Tash Sultana
This is a new track which has a more polished production than her previous work and comes a couple of months before her highly anticipated debut album. Will the extra polish push her into a household name? I wouldn't bet against it.
20) It's Summertime by Morcheeba
Instant Summer classic - I would tap my toes if I could still feel them. It's Wintertime in the Southern Hemisphere.
