That playlist revealed...
Posted by:
poetscientistdrinker (---.cache.pol.co.uk)
Date: June 14, 2003 12:53PM
For anyone who cared about who were responsible for those songs...
1: Patio Song
Gorky's Zygotic Mynci - off 'Barafundle'. I got together with my ex-fiancee listening to this track. My interest in Gorky's stemmed from various NME articles describing them as weird Welshmen, and I then saw them live at the Phoenix. Patio Song suddenly switches into welsh halfway through; to my shame I've forgotten the translation.
2: Can't Help Fallin' In Love (B-side, cover version, just to complicate matters, but very good it was too)
Eels, my favourite band. A cover done for the back of the 'Souljacker' single, IIRC. Absolutely stripped to the core of the song- just piano and E singing.
3: How Much I've Lied
Written by Gram Parsons, performed by Evan Dando on a bootleg I've got. And very good it is too. I listened to it a lot after I last split up with someone.
4: Streets of Philladelphia (not the original version)
Cover by Marah, it says here. It's a bluegrass version, and works far better than it has any right to. I prefer it to the original, scarily enough.
5: Glorious (cheesy, but brilliant...)
Andreas Jonsson (probably spelt wobbly). I nicked it off the Cold Feet album. Great for just before you go out for the evening.
6: Pockets on Fire
Anna Ryder, off her Fairport Convention tour album. Great song about the crap that blokes carry about with them. Great beat to it, despite being one woman and a guitar. Odd tuning makes the guitar more interesting than normal, with loads of little runs and clever lyrics.
7: Without You (no, not that one...)
Asia. Told you there was some prog-rock in here. I think this song is romantic, I've never been entirely sure that it isn't about something entirely different. It has that feeling of a misty morning in a forest in some mediaeval epic film. Sad but true...
8: Brick
Ben Folds' Five. Off 'Whatever and Ever, Amen' album. 'Song for the Dumped' is great if you get chucked, but this song is really moving. It sounds great if you play it very simply on a guitar, too.
9: Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key
Billy Bragg/Wilco, off 'Mermaid Avenue'. Lyrics by Woody Guthrie. Title describes my singing, but this song is so simple, and really sticks in my head.
10: Andrew Ridgely
Black Box Recorder. Got this off a freebie cd with Uncut magazine. THis song is almost as good as the brilliant 'Facts of Life', but I reckoned you'd all know that one.
11: Not Even Stevie Nicks (okay, not so good - but great title)
Calexico. I know nothing about this band other than they know a good title for a song.
12: Leavin'
Shelby Lynne, off 'I am Shelby Lynne'. Older sister of Allison Moorer, this mixes soul and country. Quite sublime, as is 'Where I'm from', which is one of my favourite late night tunes.
13: She Fell Into My Arms (a soundtrack to a love affair this one)
Ed Harcourt, off 'Here Be Monsters'. All about falling in love with someone you shouldn't. Piano driven tune, with cracking bass. At the time it was released I was sort of drifting into a relationship with one of my best friends, and we both knew what was happening but were trying desperately hard not to notice. Lines like 'I don't mind if I lose, 'cause if I win I'll be so confused' really resonated with the two of us. Turn it up loud and lose yourself, it's brilliant.
14: How It All Started In The Kitchen
The story I alluded to here is indeed my ex-fiancee. We got together listening to Patio Song, in a friends kitchen (to be even more precise, my ex-girlfriend-of-an-hour-previously's kitchen). Everyone was a bit surprised by it, and delicately left the kitchen. I was equally surprised. In a n extra twist she introduced me to this song. It's by the Lemonheads.
15: Walk Away
Originally by Ben Harper, covered by Eliza Carthy. A song about not being able to break up and move on. Covered the whole period of my life when I couldn't understand or cope with seeing Anna, but couldn't cope without her. The whole song is about trying to convice yourself to walk away, but keeps coming back to the excuses. 'They say time will make this pain go away, but it's time that has taken my tomorrows and turned them into yesterdays'. Off the 'Red Rice' double album - one half modern folk, one half trad. Very good.
16: Certainly
Erykah Badu. Off a freebie album I got years ago. Late night jazz kind of thing. Great bass to it.
17: All My Life (have I already listed this bloke?)
Evan Dando. Okay, I've already listed him. Sort of. He was in the Lemonheads, and covered the Gram Parsons one above. At the height of the Lemonheads' fame he self-destructed. This a song about self-delusion. 'All my life, I thought I needed all the things I didn't need at all'. Great melody, and it really sticks in your head. Off the 'Baby I'm Bored' album. Fantastic album with a mix of acoustic tunes with a pop sensability, with a lot of gentle country influences.
18: Natural One
Folk Implosion. Off an old compilation I had lying about. I know next to nothing about them, but great name for a band. From the soundtrack from 'Kids', it says here... Quite atmospheric.
19: Polyesterday
Gus Gus. Another old compilation carrying gems. Laid back, and more great bass.
20: Spirit of Man (Duballadub) - (Composer or artists accepted)
Off the remastered version of Jeff Wayne's 'War of the Worlds' (does this count as prog-rock? I fear it does). I discovered the album when I was about 7, and had to buy it when I saw it. There's four new mixes off various bits as a bonus, and this is the best of them. Features Phil Lynott (going completely over the top, although he was playing a nutter, so we'll forgive him) and Julie Covington. Fantastic reggae beat to this, and kind of spaced out too... If you liked the original concept, check this out.
21: Outta Space
Jimi Tenor. No other evidence offered.
22: Nice Weather For Ducks
Lemon Jelly. 'All the ducks are swimming in the water. Tra-la-la-la-lala.' No idea what the album's called, this is sounds like a remix of a nursery rhyme. Brilliant, if disturbing...
23: Stripper Vicar (in the words of Glenda Slagg - crazy title, crazy song!)
Mansun. Was tempted to put 'The Chad Who Loved Me' here, but this is a better title still.
24: It's a Girl Thing
My Life Story, off 'Joined Up Talking'. I'm sure the single version was better, but don't have a copy. Great for singing along to even if you don't know the lyrics. Whcih I don't, having joined in too enthusiastically with the 'nah nah nah'-ing everytime I hear it.
25: The Ballad of Robert Moore & Betty Coltrane
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. Bird marries a couple of ugly blokes, and tries to escape by hiding under the table. One husband kills the other, Betty kills remaining one and apologises to barman before heading off into the sunset. No, really.
26: All Around the World or The Myth of the Fingerprints
Paul Simon, off 'Graceland'. Great beat, gets me tapping my feet everytime.
27: Complainte de la Butte
Rufus Wainwright, off the 'Moulin Rouge' Soundtrack. I've got the double album version, which actually has 'Like a Virgin' on it. And 'The Pitch', and the closing music, which is great to fall asleep to. As is this one.
28: Cold as Ice (XFM Session - yup, another cover)
Sebadoh, very stripped down, and quite brilliant.
29: The Weight (either version - cover or original)
Originally The Band, covered by Travis in their live gigs. I saw them do it at Glasto, and loved every second. It sounds brilliant in both versions.
30: Bumble Bee Boy
Wannadies. It's silly, but another toe-tapper with a nice sing along feel.
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Recognise them now?
PSD
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