Mixtape April 2019

Running two weeks late this month - been very busy but finally got around to compiling my monthly playlist.  Highly influenced by 90s techno, New York cool and Australian psychedelic rock.

1) Firestarter (Alviin Risk Remix) by The Prodigy
A modern remix of the Prodigy classic that is as in your face as the original was when it was first released back in 1996.  R.I.P. Keith Flint

2) We've Got To Try by The Chemical Brothers
Taken from the new album No Geography out on the 12th April which is shaping up to be a storming record.

3) In Degrees by Foals 
Hailing from Oxford and releasing two albums this year - very dance-able and clearly influenced by Cut Copy.

4) Patience by Tame Impala 
The welcome return of Perth's best band.  There is competition so they had better come up with the goods when their new album comes out.

5) Ray Of Light by Pond
Another challenger for Perth's best band - here performing a cover version of a Madonna song.

6) Real Tight by Methyl Ethel
The other contender for Perth's best band.  I love them all so long may they make interesting trippy sounds.

7) Boogieman Sam by King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard
Could be the best Australian band from outside the Perth area? A bit of a T.Rex vibe on this track. 

8) Lux Prima by Karen O & Danger Mouse
This is nine minutes of lush quality music from producer Danger Mouse with vocals from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' singer.  It is the opening track of an album that deserves a listen.

9) Gummy Bear by Mini Mansions
Mini Mansions appear to be treading the same ground as Tame Impala's Currents.  It is fertile ground so who could blame them.

10) Before The Water Gets Too High by Parquet Courts 
This must be The Beta Band??? 

11) Salt Eyes by Middle Kids 
Aussie slacker indie pop.

12) Don't Be So Hard On Yourself by Alex Lahey 
More Aussie indie pop but with a saxophone solo.

13) Off My Mind by Richard Hawley 
A real rocker from the old Northern Crooner but check the similarity with Pretty Vegas by INXS.

14) Hot Pink by Cousin Tony's Brand New Firebird
Another Melbourne band who produce off kilter pop songs.

15) Face The Facts by Foxygen 
NYC hipsters reminiscing on life in the 70's that they are clearly too young to remember.

16) Steal The Show by The Allergies ft Andy Cooper
Allergies and Andy Cooper are always welcome on this blog and this track is a blinder.

17) Silver Lining by Sons Of The East
Melancholy guitar strumming building to a huge singalong chorus which never arrives...

18) 626 Bedford Avenue by The Drums
The Drums have now been around for ten years and this is their best work since the early days.

19) The Sun Also Rises by Sleeper
This was a surprise - I had heard that Britpop also-runs Sleeper were reforming but never expected I would enjoy their new material.  I hear they are touring the nostalgia circuit along with Embrace, Shed Seven and a host of other 90s bands. 

20) Rapture (Matt Darey Remix) by Erasure
A mental 90s trance remix of Erasure's cover of Blondie's 1981 rap hit.  This isn't new but its new to me.

Mixtape March 2019

Another batch of  music carefully stockpiled and placed in your bunker to get you through the month of March.  

1) Danger - Always Looking for Stranger by Gregg Diamond
A new disco classic with a retro funky 70's vibe.

2) Tough Enough by Ex Hex
Taken from the forthcoming second album - their first release in five years.

3) Ruiner by Methyl Ethel 
Opening track from the Perth band's third album Triage which is heavily influenced by the new wave sounds of the early 80s.

4) Times Won't Change Me by Circa Waves
Liverpool band about to release their third album.

 5) Chaos From The Top Down by Stereophonics 
Obviously inspired by the mess of the British Government.

6) Fast Times by Albert Hammond Jr 
Where are The Strokes?  Come-on guys - reform.  This is alright but it just hints at what we are missing.

7) Enough To Believe (Jamie Jones Remix) by Bob Moses
Excellent catchy modern dance track with some great production and dare I say "sick" beats. 

8) Gangster Trippin (Dan Aux Remix) by Fatboy Slim
The original was a hit twenty years ago and this cut up remix comes via New Zealand DJ Dan Aux.

9) Super Cool by Beck featuring Robyn & The Lonely Island 
Taken from the new Lego Movie - has Beck in funky pop mood - a companion piece to Everything Is Awesome from the first film.  Lyrically it is about staying in the movie to read the credits.  Radio Friendly Unit Shifter.  Yes I would sell out (make me an offer).



10) Be Yourself by Hilltop Hoods ft Ecca Vandal & Nyassa 
Hilltop Hoods have just realised their first album in five years.  This track seems to be built upon a loop of the intro to Harlem Shuffle.

11) In The Capital by Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever 

New music from RBCF - then again its all new music - that's the point.

12) What Can I Do If The Fire Goes Out? by Gang of Youths
 Still milking tracks from their 2017 album - but when it's this good I'll let it pass.

13) Staring At The Sun by Wooden Shijips 
Blissed out hippy shit akin to the Velvet Underground crossed with Spiritualized.

14) Something Tells Me by Meg Mac
Aussie singer with a new song that is destined to be huge.

15) Little Smart Houses by Sundara Karma
Taken from the second album by Reading's Sundara Karma.  Catchy indie pop.

16) Here by Sloan Peterson 
Another great release from Sydney's Sloan Peterson.

17) Heavy For You by The Heavy
Is it too heavy for you?  Actually it's not. In fact it could be much heavier.



18) Spooky Dub by The Nextmen Vs Gentleman's Dub Club featuring Hollie Cook
One of my favourite albums of 2018 gets the full dub version treatment. Tasty!

19) Right For Me by The Teskey Brothers 
Australian band from the Yarra Valley with their take on the Motown sound.

20) Ill Wind by Radiohead
This was released in January with no fanfare - I almost missed it.  Situation remedied.

Mixtape February 2019

This month there is a definite dance vibe to the playlist interspersed with a big old dub section and a few indie shmindie acts towards the end.  It's a strong set if I do say so myself - and I do.

1) Cool As Hell by Baker Boy
Awesome groovy track from the hottest act from the Northern Territory.

2) Lightenup (Alex Metric Remix) by Parcels 
One of my favourite tracks from last year remixed by the great Alex Metric who can always add extra funk to everything he touches.

3) Got To Keep On by The Chemical Brothers
The Chemical Brothers are back in a rich vein of form lately after some frankly lean years.

4) Cyboogie by king Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard
There is something very familiar about this release it sounds like Super Furry Animals covering Dark Side Of The Moon.  Great to have King Giz back after a year's silence.

5) Wide Awake by Parquet Courts
New York band banging out the percussion as if they were A Certain Ratio circa 1982.

6) B.L.M. by The Specials 
Autobiographical tale of the singer's family travelling as part of the Windrush generation and dealing with the attitudes they received in the UK and USA. Best new song I have heard from The Specials in the last 30 years - I am now checking out their new album Encore.

7) Meditate by Golden Features
Another wicked slab of Aussie Dance music taken from the excellent SECT album.

8) Break Down The Walls (Warm Up Jam) by Ian Brown
King Monkey s back with Ripples, his first album in ten years.  It's meant to be a grower - only the second half has grown on me so far.  This reggae cover of Mikey Dread is the final album track.

9) Teardrop (Mazaruni Dub One Remix) by Massive Attack  
A classic song given a dubby remix by the Mad Professor.

10) There Will Come A Time (We Will Die Remix) by Orbital ft Prof. Brian Cox
This remix features a Sane Professor and is even better than the real thing.

11) Forever Dub by Friction ft Kilo Bun 
Keeping it on a dub vibe but introducing some drum n bass beats.

12) Delete by Chase & Status ft Burro Banton
Again Son, Harder! 

13)  Stardust by Gentleman's Dub Club 

And relax - after all that dnb it's time to chill. 

14) Echo Arms by Mr Twin Sister 
Further chilled grooves from an artist from Long Island.

15) Beat 54 (Krystal Klear 12" Mix) by Jungle
From the XL Recordings label - a slice of pure disco heaven.

16) Nobody's Home by Mallrat & Basenji
A sweet collaboration from two Aussie artists. 

17) Confidence by Ocean Alley
Number One in the recent Triple J Hottest 100 countdown as voted by Australia's youth.  Being a grumpy middle-aged music fan I didn't enjoy much of the countdown and sadly now fall into the camp of old men shaking their fists at clouds.  This is a worthy winner from the popular tracks.      

18) Not Done Yet by Sticky Fingers
Taken from their recently released 4th album Yours To Keep, sees the band return after a few years off and infighting in the band.  A comeback record claiming they are far from over.

19) Fun Destruction by Teleman
"We're four boys in our corduroys" playing with their keyboards.

20) Got To Let The Good Times Back Into Your Life by Razorlight
I didn't expect to hear of Razorlight again after their song America was a hit in 2006 and composer Andy Burrows left to pursue a solo career and work with Ricky Gervais.  But surprisingly Razorlight resurrected themselves and returned last year with a new album full of feelgood anthems.

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.

Albums of the Year 2018

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.


Happy New Year

Tracks of the Year 2018

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 by Nathaniel 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

Old Indie Kid’s Christmas Crackers

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...