Mixtape January 2019 (Cover Version Special)

The final year of the decade has begun.  A decade that doesn’t have a recognised name to describe it.
I am looking forward to the Twenties when such issues are resolved and I can focus on proper problems.  However I have been on holiday and failed to create a playlist at the start of the month.  So here is a cover version playlist to make up for it.  Normal service will be restored soon...

1) Summer In The City by Johnny Marr and Matt Johnson
Reuniting Johnny Marr with his friend and singer from The The with a great cover of this ‘60s classic - originally written and recorded by The Lovin' Spoonful.

2) Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t Have) by Bob Evans
The original by the Buzzcocks was sung by Pete Shelley who sadly died in December 2018. R.I.P.

3) Faith by The Boy Least Likely To.
Early learning instruments well used in this George Michael cover.

4) I’m On Fire by Chromatics.
Bruce Springsteen song given stripped back treatment.

5) Linger by Freedom Fry
The original was a hit for The Cranberries and this cover is by the same group who also recorded an excellent version of 1979 by Smashing Pumpkins.

6) Let It Happen by Husky
A Tame Impala song covered by a Melbourne band

7) Eventually by Lucius
Another Tame Impala track performed here by Brookyn band Lucius.

8) Take On Me by Weezer
A-ha are one of my guilty pleasures. Weezer have just released the Teal Album comprised of covers so that is obviously album of the month.

9) Diamonds Are Forever by Arctic Monkeys
Brilliant Bond Theme from a terrible Bond movie.  If you enjoy 007 then check out the Smershpod Podcasts which review all the Bond films and then mercilessly rip them apart.

10) Love Is Blindness by Jack White
The former White Stripe covers a U2 album track from Achtung Baby.

11) Hungry Like The Wolf by Muse 
Muse with a live recording of the Duran Duran hit from 1982.

12)  Inbetween Days by Ben Folds
Ben Folds with a distinctive cover of this 1985 hit by The Cure.

13) Interesting Drug by OK Go
A cover of Morrissey's 1989 hit.

14) Don't Look Back In Anger by Portugal. The Man
Laidback version of the Oasis classic.

15) Bittersweet Symphony by Mondo Cozmo
Original by The Verve who stole the strings from a classical cover of the Rolling Stone's the Last Time.  This cover is several layers deep just like the film Inception.

16) Clint Eastwood by Naosol & The Waxx Blend
Sunshine in a bag.

17) I Believe In A Thing Called Love by Branches
Cover of the 2003 song by The Darkness

18) Synth For The Devil  by Jan Blomqvist 
A dance workout of a classic from The Rolling Stones

19) Do You Realize? by Blue Fringe
Cover of The Flaming Lips by an Israeli Band.

20) The Rip by Wilsen
Original by Portishead taken from the 2008 album Third.

Mixtape January 2018

Happy New Year - this is the first playlist of 2018 and rounds up the newest tracks that have piqued my interest in the last month and a few monster hits that I missed the first time around.

1)  Letter Down by Theo Verney
Theo is a masively talented musician from Brighton in the UK.  His debut album One Small Piece was released in July and includes this prime example of 60's influenced heavy rock.

2) Get By by Diane Coffee
Diane Coffee is the former drummer in Foxygen who has gone on to produce classic camp indie pop records.  This is too catchy to resist.

3) Mourning Sound by Grizzly Bear
This was a single released earlier in 2017 by these US rockers taken from their Painted Ruins album.

4) Give Me A Minute (Stickybuds Remix) by Fort Knox Five
Funky hip hop fresh out of Washington DC.  Their are only four members of the Fort Knox Five but they thought Five was more hip hop than Four.

5) Feel It Still by Portugal. The Man
Alaskan rock band who released this excellent track from their Woodstock album and it was well received all over the world.

6) Holy Mountain by Noel Gallagher & The High Flying Birds
The most joyful tunes ever penned by Noel - he may as well have screamed "It's Christmas" in a Noddy Holder impression.  I'm hoping he avoids an Oasis reunion when his solo career is producing such gems.



7) International Blue by Manic Street Preachers
This sounds like it could have come straight off their most commercial album Everything Must Go which indicates the Manics might be heading back to the mainstream again. in 2018.

8) Monkey Disco (Jono Ma Dub Remix) by The Babe Rainbow
Australia's The Babe Rainbow with a track from their debut album remixed by the man behind Jagwar Ma - taking the lunacy further back into the primeval jungle.

9) Juice (Purple Disco MachineRemix) by Chromeo
Canadian Funk outfit continue the grooves with their Juice single.  The remix is provided by equally funky German house producer Purple Disco Machine.

10) Cabrona by Gin Wigmore
New Zealand singer who released four singles in 2017 so a new album must be incoming shortly.

11) The Priest by Johnny Marr
Former Smith produces the backing track for this tale of homelessness voiced by Shameless actress Maxine Peake.



12) Shasta (acoustic) by Blonde Ambition
American artist whose latest single is backed by a collection of acoustic versions from his debut album.

13) Your Light by Total Giovanni
Laidback groovy track from the Melbourne band.

14) Cast In Stone by Winston Surfshirt
A track that demonstrates the creative genius that flows from this Sydney band.  Tempo changes, wild mood swings and over eight minutes of quality music, lyrics and raps that hints at a fantastic career to come.

15) All Is Known by King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard
Gumboot Soup was the fifth album released by KG&LW in 2017.  It is a varied collection of songs that didn't fit with the themes of their last four albums.  Gumboot Soup is their twelfth album in five years.  The mad bastards!

16) Delusion by Stonefield
The Heaviness continues with the spaced out soundscapes and hypnotic riffs from these Australian sisters.

17) Time by Lee Fields & The Expressions
Classic soul musician with another brilliant song.  If you like this then check out his 2012 album Faithful Man which remains a firm favourite of mine.

18) Come As You Are by Big Scary 
Triple J's Like A Version cover sessions have recently been made available via Spotify and they contain a host of amazing live covers including this one of the Nirvana original. 

19)  Galvanize by Pete Tong with The Heritage Orchestra
It's all gone a bit Pete Tong, the Superstar DJ has teamed up with an orchestra to release his second collection of Ibiza Classics recorded with guest vocals and a full orchestra.  The Chemical Brothers released the original electronic version of Galvanize back in 2004.

20) California by The Growlers
Playing out with The Growlers and their feel good indie rock ode to their home state of California.