Mixtape February 2018

Well the first month of 2018 saw the sad passing of two alternative rock singers Dolores O'Riordan of The Cranberries and Mark E. Smith of The Fall.  For obituaries look elsewhere but life is short so enjoy it and fill it with wonderful music.  Here's my monthly recommendations... 

1) Miami (Parrot and Cocker Too Remix) by Baxter Dury
Dirty sweary music from the son of Ian Dury remixed by Jarvis Cocker is the recommended antidote. It's big and it's clever.  The album Prince of Tears is worth exploring unless you're a precious little snowflake.

2) Severed by The Decemberists
This new song is synth heavy and the most interesting thing they have released since 2009's The Hazards of Love.  They have rediscovered their mojo.

3) Better by Mallrat
The first of many female artists who feature on this mixtape.



4) Fool's Gold by Jack River
She's another one to watch - this Australian musician is bloody awesome.



5) It's Easy (like Walking) by The Sadies featuring Kurt Vile
A new discovery for myself but The Sadies have been huge in Canada for two decades and here they are joined by a personal favourite Kurt Vile who sounds like a slacker but obviously has a great work ethic by his continuous output.

6) In The Ghetto  by The Cranberries 
R.I.P. Dolores O'Riordan (1971-2018) This is their version of the Elvis classic. 

7) The Deconstruction by The Eels 
This is a very interesting record and I am looking forward to more from The Eels in 2018.



8) Kapow! by 485c 
London band still playing chiming swirling indie rock and honing their trade.

9) Cornflakes  by Belle & Sebastian 
B&S have released their second of three new EPs and are experimenting in bizarre musical directions - this track is perhaps the the safest of the new tracks.  I'm looking forward to watching the Scottish Monsters of Twee for the fourth time when they return to Australia later this year.

10) It's A Shame by First Aid Kit 
They are ten years into their recording career and have just released Ruins their fifth album to much popular acclaim by those who like folky country rock sung by Swedish sisters.  




11) Before Sunrise by Gengahr 
Gengahr are dropping new songs all over the place which indicates they are close to releasing a follow up to their excellent A Dream Outside debut.  I can confirm the new album is due in early March. 

12) Solid Gold by Elk Road featuring Julia Stone
Julia Stone turns up on providing her husky vocals on this catchy pop tune.

13) Lost In Music by The Fall
R.I.P. Mark E. Smith (1958-2018) who fronted and was The Fall through all 40 years of their existence. A post punk Manchester legend. This track is obviously a cover of the disco classic by Sister Sledge.

14) The Deepest Sighs, the Frankest Shadows by Gang of Youths
Gang of Youths hail from Sydney and have become one of the most popular Aussie indie rock bands of the year.   Dominating Triple J's Hottest 100 with three separate tracks reaching the top 10 of the alternative national poll.



15) Lemon To A Knife Fight by The Wombats
Liverpool band who deserve a mention for the lyrics "Intoxicated - Higher than the ISS".

16) 21 Grams by Thundamentals featuring Hilltop Hoods
Thundamentals and Hilltop Hoods representing Australian Skip Hop. 

17) Bus Stop by Graham Coxon
Graham recorded his first TV soundtrack for the amazing dark comedy TV show The End Of The F***ing World.  Check it out for your twisted pleasure.

18) Chasin' by Club Sport
A sweet love song from the Aussie indie popsters.

19) Electric Feel by Tash Sultana
Tash Sultana recorded an epic eight minute version of MGMT's 2009 hit Electric Feel for Australian radio station Triple J.



20) In This Modern Land by City Calm Down
Melbourne band who obviously like the sounds of Joy Division. 

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.   

Tracks of the Year 2017

Over the past twelve months Spotify informs me that I have listened to over 7000 songs.  I have selected 240 tracks on my monthly playlists and now is time for the cull.  It's a Darwinian survival of the fittest to arrive with the annual top 40.  In keeping with the Top 40 Chart Countdowns of old I am reversing the order and saving the best until last.  My only essential criteria being a 2017 release date and being awesome.

40) Bless This Acid House by Kasabian



39) Say Something Loving by The xx

38) 2 Black 2 Strong by A.B. Original

37) Do You Wanna Get Into Trouble? by Soulwax

36) We Were Beautiful by Belle & Sebastian



35) Put Me Together by Everything Everything

34) You Deserve This by Men I Trust

33) Strange Or Be Forgotten by Temples

32) Feels Like Summer by Weezer



31) You're In Love With A Psycho by Kasabian

30) Never Let Me Go by Green Buzzard

29) Cloud 9 by Baker Boy

28) Melin Wynt by King Creosote

27) Like Gold by Vance Joy

26) Black Rainbows by Cut Copy

25) Everybody's Hero by Sampa The Great

24) Kids Are Cool by San Cisco

23) Murder To The Mind by Tash Sultana



22) Paint Me Silver by Pond

21) Golden by Kingswood

20) Snow by Angus & Julia Stone

19) All Things Must Pass by The Jesus and Mary Chain

18) Pop Voodoo by Black Grape

17) Put Your Life On It by Kasabian

16) Ubu by Methyl Ethel

15) Holding On by The War On Drugs

14) Everything Now by Arcade Fire

13) Notion by Tash Sultana

12) All I Want by Ride

11) Lay It On Me by Vance Joy



10) Magnificent (She Said) by Elbow

9) Don't Delete The Kisses by Wolf Alice



8) Holy Mountain by Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds

7) Can't Do by Everything Everything

6) Over Everything by Courtney Barnett & Kurt Vile




5) The System Only Dreams In Total Darkness by The National

4) We Got The Power by Gorillaz featuring Jehnny Beth



3) Signs Of Life by Arcade Fire



2) The Two Of Us by The Jesus and Mary Chain featuring Sky Ferreira

1) My Name Is Thunder by Jet & The Bloody Beetroots




And here's a Spotify Playlist

Albums of the Year 2017

2017 has been another fine year for indie rock and if I had to whittle it down to ten essential albums then they would be the following...

#10 The War On Drugs - A Deeper Understanding
Pounding drums, harmonicas, wailing Americana and dueling guitars abound.



#9 The Allergies - Push On
Brighton duo with their second collection of big beat tunes, styles and a collection of guest vocalists which help with the variety on this album.

#8 Methyl Ethel - Everything Is Forgotten
Second album from the Western Australian band who have taken their hallucinatory rock show to critical acclaim around the world.   



#7 Ride - Weather Diaries

Indie shoe gazers return over twenty years since they last recorded together.  Great comeback album mixing their early sound with some contemporary flourishes.

#6 Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds - Who Built The Moon? 

In a year when Liam Gallagher released his first solo album and spent much of it bagging his older brother, there was no room for complacency and Noel responded with this rocking album. 

#5 Beck - Colors

The album was long awaited dropping over two years after the lead single Dreams appeared.  This is Beck back in party mode.

#4 Black Grape - Pop Voodoo

Daft Funk.  This is Black Grape's 3rd album and their second best of all time.  Shaun Ryder & Kermit deliver their assessment of the US election as well as their usual themes of smoking, drinking and other vices.     

#3 Jesus And Mary Chain - Damage And Joy
JAMC return with their first album since 1998 filled with fuzzy guitars, guest duets and pop gems.  They sound fresh like a much younger group but they look like they have escaped from the portrait of Dorian Grey.

#2 Everything Everything - A Fever Dream
Manchester band dabbling in the well worn groove between rock and dance music.



#1 Kasabian - For Crying Out Loud
The finest album by the world's most self assured band.  Packed with hits and funny to boot.


I've compiled a taster playlist mixing four tracks from each album below...




Tracks of the year is coming soon...

Mixtape December 2017

The last monthly mixtape of the year is here for your listening pleasure.  There is no time for me to relax as I must press on with the deliberations of the ultimate end of year polls for best tracks and best albums.  Luckily I enjoy making lists.  But before that time to pick up a few stragglers from 2017...

1)  God Knows by Nic Cester
The singer from Aussie rockers Jet has released an awesome solo album with a mix of rock, soul and hints of trip hop.

2) Doll by Tricky featuring Avalon Lurks
A stripped back cover of the Courtney Love/Hole original.  Always loved this song.

3) Rats by Sloan Peterson
Aussie Garage Rockers Sloan Peterson with a track that was excluded from last month's all Australian collection but worth a mention.



4) Same Same by Winston Surfshirt 
Speaking of which, Sydney's Winston Surfshirt are also excellent deserve to be massive.

5) If Love Is The Law by Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds 
Third album Who Built The Moon has just been released and this track features a guest appearance by Johnny Marr, a harmonica and suitably festive jingle bells in the mix. 


6) Sweet Harmony by She Drew The Gun
This green cover from the Liverpudlian indie band is a warning of ecological damage being done to the world and the call for all people and nations to come together and fix the problems.  It is still relevant nearly twenty five years later.  The original was The Beloved's biggest hit back in 1993.

7) Phantom by Sarah Blasko
The excellent Sarah Blasko is back with her first track from her sixth album Depth of Field due next year.



8) Golden Slumbers by Elbow
Taken from a Christmas advert in the UK this Beatles Song is perfect for his gravely Manc voice.

9) Room In My House by Shed Seven
A great comeback song taken from the new Instant Pleasures album.  Bluesy guitar riffs announce their first new material in 16 years.  The Yorkshire Britpop survivors even inject some humourous lyrics to help blow off the cobwebs.

10) Rage by Freestylers & Deekline
Loved the Freestylers B-Boy Stance back in the 90's and they have now strayed into dnb territory and I have been playing this track constantly and my kids are now singing the  to themselves.  "On the stage I rage and I'm rollin'."

11) The Next Time We Wed by The Fratellis
The best thing they've done since Chelsea Dagger.  Sounds like the Scissor Sisters if they had just gone through a messy divorce.

12) Like Gold by Vance Joy
Another glorious indie pop song that Vance Joy seems to churn out effortlessly.

13) Would You Be Mine by Turin Brakes
Adopting an electronic vibe this indie folk band are now having new adventures in hi-fi.

14) Friday On My Mind by San Cisco
Fremantle indie band with a cover of a 1966 worldwide hit for Australia's swinging sixties rockers - The Easybeats.  Founding member, songwriter and guitarist George Young died in October. George was the elder brother of AC/DC's Angus and Malcolm.  Malcolm also passed away this year leaving Angus Young in his school boy outfit as the only remaining original member of Acca-Dacca.

15) Pulsar by Ride
Shoegazer legends continue the new music with this single that doesn't appear on their 2017 Weather Diaries album.  This is a single edit so expect the full track to be twice as long.  I was just getting into it when it annoyingly faded out!

16) The Blackout by U2
Every now and then U2 release an interesting record - usually about once a decade.  The dirty bass sound and apocalyptic lyrics raise it above their regular output.  New album Songs of Experience is released on 1st December and it won't be automatically loaded onto every itunes account this time.

17) January 26 by A.B. Original
Trials and Briggs have been picking up awards for their excellent Aussie Hip Hop album Reclaim Australia and this track was released a year ago critical of holding the national day on January 26 - the anniversary of the British Invasion in 1788.  Australia Radio Station Triple J have just announced they are moving the date of their Hottest 100 Countdown to the following day and the culture war shit is just hitting the fan!       



18) Photosynthesis by Frank Turner
The Wessex Boy who proves that if you had an acoustic guitar it meant that you were a protest singer.  He's very angry and he's taking a stand against sitting down, capitalism and the aging process.

19) Tic Tac Toe by Django Django 
First track taken from their third album Marble Skies due in early 2018.

20) Hell To The Liars (Kolsch Remix) by London Grammar
Playing out the year with a 12 minute Danish techno remix that elevates London Grammar's music onto my radar.

Mixtape November 2017

G'day, as this month is Australian Music Month, the playlist is totes true blue ridgy-didge Aussie.
We have trippy tunes, jazz reggae, indigenous skip hop, dirty rock, a splattering of indie and several genres that I fail to identify.  I expect many of these artists to reappear in Triple J's Hottest 100 countdown - or I would if it didn't get worse every year.  Did I mention I was a grumpy old indie kid?

Aussie Rock

1) Aunty Tracey's Cookies by Joyride
Funky jam from a band who obviously enjoy their space cookies.



2) Mystik by Tash Sultana 
That Tash is so hot right now! This reggae rocker breaks out into electronics and saxophone solos - it sounds bad on paper but at this stage she can do no wrong.

3) Shred For Summer by DZ Deathrays
Queensland hard rockers come out with killer riffs and a chorus celebrating the arrival of Summer.

4) On A Lock by Winston Surfshirt
This Sydney Band have just released Sponge Cake their debut laidback trippy album which is my tip for further listening this month.

5) Turn Up Your Light by Boo Seeka
Soulful trip hop from a very cool band currently touring Australia and New Zealand.

6) Lay It On Me by Vance Joy
Vance Joy's latest anthem has the potential to top Triple J's Hottest 100 and repeat the success of Riptide.

7) Marryuna by Baker Boy
The highly anticipated second single from Baker Boy whose debut song Cloud 9 deservedly won the NT's Song of the Year award.  The hype is also well deserved - this guy is going to be huge!

8) 105 by Sloan Peterson
Debut single by this Sydney band with a love of classic pop drenched in garage rock.

9) Not Worth Hiding  by Alex The Astronaut
With the non mandatory postal survey on the issue of same sex marriage due to be announced in early November, this is a topical and sweet song about coming out rather than living a lie. An antidote to the vitriol of the last couple of months.

10) The Future by Motez featuring Antony & Cleopatra
A chilled hit worthy of reuniting the greatest double act of the Roman Empire... Fair dos - I know nothing about any of these guys. 

11) November by Super Cruel featuring Lisa Mitchell 
Lisa Mitchell has been releasing folk-pop songs for the last ten years and is the featured vocalist on this electronic music - I'm too old to know how to describe it let alone dance to it.  Is it dubstep?  The title is November which is co-incidental - but pleasing.     

12) This Thing We Got by The Kite String Tangle 
One of the first tracks that I've enjoyed by The Kite String Tangle.  I've always like the band's name and now their music has caught up with it.

13) Into The Sky by Pnau
Now this is just warped trippy dance/rock crossover with slabs of synth and sampled vocals - Old school!

14) R.Y.K. by GUM
In a similar vein - this is another track from a Perth musician who is also a member of both Tame Impala and Pond - Lucky bastard!

15) 2 Black 2 Strong by A.B. Original 
Briggs is a legend and very funny comedian who often shows up to have a rant on the ABC.  His political hip hop band A.B. Original is the Australian equivalent of Public Enemy.  Check out their awesome album Reclaim Australia.



16) Dawning by DMA's
Another track from the DMA's who are following their usual formula on this latest release.  Innovation is for other people.

17) Hold On by The Money War
This has a Sleepy Jackson vibe to it.  Speaking of the Sleepy Jackson - weren't they meant to be reforming?  It's all gone very quiet on that front.

18) Black Lake by Wallace
Wallace has a great sultry voice and this track sounds like a lost James Bond theme.

19) Mechanical Bull by Stella Donnelly 
Singer songwriter recently nominated for best single in the West Australian Music Awards.  Gets a little bit PJ Harvey around the two minute mark.

20) Get High Like An Angel by The Bennies 
Melbourne Punk Ska band with their anthem to mediocrity and getting high.

That's it - now clear off and come back next month for my final monthly roundup and my end of year album and singles lists. 

Mixtape October 2017

There is an electronic flavour to this month's playlist with many groups releasing new tunes in the last few weeks.  The second half is a more mixed bag of indie scmindie covers and full on rock.

1) Everything Is Never Enough by Goldfrapp
Goldfrapp's latest single taken from their seventh album "Silver Eye".

2) Non Believer (Groove Armada's Remix) by London Grammar
Never been a fan of London Grammer, to me they are a moany version of The XX.  Luckily Groove Armada have the skills to improve any source material they remix.

3) Be Friends by Alice Ivy
Summertime good vibes with samples, raps and beats.

4) Chameleon by Pnau & Mele
Pnau are a funky Sydney dance outfit who deliver the goods on this remixed single.
The original version and video are below.



5) Black Rainbows by Cut Copy
Another Australian dance act from Melbourne who have been releasing tunes since 2004.
They have just released their fifth album "Haiku from Zero" and this track is quality.

6) Dive (Colorama & Shawn Lee Remix) by Saint Etienne
St Etienne need no introduction.  This remix is a mint eight minute workout of their recent single.

7) Lullaby Horizon by Way Out West
Bristol dance veterans doing what they do best - trancey chillout tracks.

8) Strange Waves by Shock Machine
Another slice of synthetic pop genius.

9) Poor Man Dan by Diane Coffee
When the drummer left Foxygen to form his own band he seems to have taken the pop spark with him and Foxygen have been in decline ever since.

10) No Diggity by Alice Jemima
I read recently that people who enjoy this song are more likely to be psychopaths - It's a fair cop!



11) Auld Reekie Blues by Reverend And The Makers
Single taken from their 2017 album "Death Of A King".

12) Waterfalls by Kyle Craft
A cover of the excellent TLC song.

13) Stop by Lisa Mitchell
Another cover by an Australian songstress who has just released an EP of cover versions tackling songs by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and Placebo.  This one sounded familiar and I couldn't believe who sang the original until I google it.  If you can pick it then shame on you!

14) Up All Night by Beck
The wait is almost over - Beck will release his long awaited new album on the 13th October.  It will include the hits "Dreams", "Wow", "Dear Life" and this one "Up All Night".



15) Isn't Love by Citizen Kay
Australian skip hop artist Citizen Kay originally came from Ghana before he moved to Canberra asa child and has just released his "Belly of the Beast" album.

16) Asshole by The Creases
One of the highlights taken from the Brisbane band's "Tremolow" album.  Such a joyous chorus to sing along to.

17) The Line by Foo Fighters
The singer used to play drums for Nirvana.  This is how he spends his retirement.

18) How Far Must We Go? by Horsebeach
Taken from the Manchester band's third album "Beauty & Sadness".

19) Chateau by Angus & Julia Stone
Taken from the album "Snow" which is becoming one of my favourites of the year.

20) The Finish Line by Embrace
It is now the twentieth anniversary of the release of the first Embrace singles and they are back with a single taken from their eighth album expected in early 2018.