Word magazine are responsible for one of my favourite ever CDs, a free compilation that came with one of their issues back in 04 and opened my eyes to some great new music. I had forgotten about it for a while but yesterday I was thinking about Nick Cave and his performance with Grinderman on Jools Holland, which led to 'where the hell is that amazing CD I used to have with Nick Cave and a multitude of great artists on it?'. So here are the best songs off of the disc I got for free and am passing on for the greater good.
Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds - Easy Money
Many people would kill for melodies like these. Many good songs have been written in prison.
Sondre Lerche - Two Way Monologue
Jaunty indie from a fellow who was on Marc Riley's show on 6music this week. Go listen again if ya likes it.
Paul Weller - Early Morning Rain
Go on Weller! One of his best songs since The Jam, dude sounds like he's trying to be Bruce Springsteen and succeeds in writing something better than old Brucey ever did. This is the one. too right.
Groove Armada - Little by Little
Sounding more like Zero 7 than the radio-friendly Groove Armada i've come to hate, my anger that The Armada even exists subsides slightly when I hear these beats. Barbecue-perfect.
Robyn Hitchcock (with Gillian Welch & David Rawlings) - If You Know Time
Shimmering acoustic folk with an eastern tinge thanks to the guitar work. Let this one soak in.
The Bees - Wash in the Rain
The ever-excellent Bees do it again with a great uptempo singalong song. All together now, wash in the rain!
Sons and Daughters - Awkward Duet
This song prompted me to buy Sons and Daughters second album which in turn prompted me to buy the first. They had me hooked, and they're from Scotland which is always a bonus. I'm gonna stick this on repeat for a while.
The Handsome Family - Gail with the Golden Hair
Time for a bit of oldschool country now, get some wheat in yer mouth and sit on the porch reminiscing about love ones lost and chances taken.
The Honeymoon - Passive Aggressive
Oh man this CD just keeps on giving, it would be my desert island disc no doubt. Ethereal melodies abound on this beauty.
The Concretes - You Can't Hurry Love
It's like the lady says. Bouncy indie-pop with horns, drums and singing aplenty.
Adem - Everything you Need
If there is one unifying theme to these songs it would be that each has a great melody that really hooks the listener in and enables you to either sit there humming along or get a little deeper and check the equally as amazing lyrics. Adem ain't no slouch, he's got the hook(s)up too.
Sorry about the brief descriptions on each track but I can't be arsed to sit here and pontificate all day. Tell me what you like or don't like about these songs, and how's the new Hermit? My photoshop has died so it's a work in progress but so far I likes it. Blue is the colour eh.
