(no subject)
Allo allo, it's time for my Songs Of The Year.
(Click to download the .zip. 94mb, mostly .mp3 but has a couple of .m4a. All songs are available separately below)
I almost did this chronologically, but ended up doing it in sections. These songs are all either new out this year or new to me this year. For example, I've listened to a lot of Ryan Adams this year, but he isn't here because I didn't listen to anything new. And yes, sometimes I *am* ridiculously behind the times. Thanks.
This first section we'll call "Rebecca listened to a lot of punk and rediscovered her political side".
01. King Blues - Mr Music Man
The band they come and say they no wanna play ska
Them a wanna play emo cos that gonna go far
See them a always followin' the new incoming trend
Them a got no soul, them a so shameless
And when the dust clear, you can be sure that
I still be here skankin' in me pork pie hat
Just a drinkin' me brew and a smokin' me grass
This aint a t-shirt man, this is me heart
Sam and I saw King Blues a lot this year. Himself got into them years ago, because he is a smug fucker like that, but Sam really encouraged me to listen to them. We ended up seeing them as much as we could, and would both still go back for more. They are amazing, a really great heartfelt punk/ska band with amazing politics and sweet souls. I love them. This is the reissue of this song and references 'Radio' by Rancid (when the music hits me, I feel no pain) which is also the song I have tattooed on me, so it's even more special to me. I could have chosen any of their songs, but I chose this for that reason.
02. The Gaslight Anthem - Old White Lincoln
You and your high top sneakers and your sailor tattoos
Your old '55 that you drove through the roof
Of the sky, up above these indifferent stars
Where you just kept coming apart, straight in my arms
Right in my arms
Again, Sam got into TGA and forced me to like them. We saw them in February and at the time I hadn't listened so hard and only really knew this song. It remains my favourite. I love the story in it and the sense of ordinary-ness behind it.
03. Frank Turner - I Knew Prufrock Before He Got Famous
Justin is the last great of the romantic poets
He's the only one among us who is ever gonna make it
We planned the revolution from a cheap Southampton bistro
I don't remember details, but there were English boys with banjos
We saw Frank Turner support The Gaslight Anthem, and I had been listening in preparation. I met him and told him he was great. I know that a lot of people have gone off him now (as dachelle and I discussed last week), and I sort of see why, because he is a bit of a douche, but I really love this song and the entirety of Love, Ire and Song. Sam and I saw him in October and it was simultaneously one of the worst and one of the best gigs I've ever been to.
04. Chris Murray - We Do The Ska
The thicker the lumber, the stronger the beam
The deeper the water, the cooler the stream
Now rudie come lately all over the scene
Trading the black and white for green
Because he don't know what it mean
We do the ska
I find Chris Murray very mellow and easy to listen to. This is a great song that I thought was a classic ska song but no, it's actually his. I love it. I'd love to see him. King Blues covered this for BBC6Music, I think, and it's a really good version, but this is better.
05. Crazy Baldhead - A Boy Named Sue
Some bird would giggle and I'd get red
Some geezer would laugh and I'd kick him in the the head
This is not a cover version but more of a 're-imagining'. It's the same song as made famous by Johnny Cash (written by Shel Silverstein, I believe), but it's got a London accented boy singing, and the lyrics are slightly changed. It's absolutely immense. The guitar hook - de dee, dee de dee - is so fucking catchy. If you like cover versions, take this.
06. The Slackers - Married Girl
Married girl don't you wanna
smoke a little marijuana?
Take some time and have a drink
and think about what you gonna do to me?
Yet another ska band. Himself and I saw The Slackers in May and they're so good, so talented and like all good ska bands there's about 95 of them. This was one of Himself's Songs of the Year last year; it makes it into my list this time. I love the lead singer's voice.
07. The Skints - Sociopath
All my friends are sociopaths
It's alright, it's alright
Ahhh, the Skints. Sam and I saw the girl, Marcia, on melodica for the King Blues, and I sort of fell in love with her a bit right then. Then Himself and I saw the Skints support the Slackers and god, this band. They're soulful reggae punk. Their drummer is their lead singer. Marcia is ridiculously hot. They've just released their album and this is the version of "Sociopath" from it. The demo is good too. I'll be back with more Skints love in the New Year, I promise.
Now we get to the section of the mix called "fuck me, Rebecca listened to a lot of female singers this year".
08. Laura Marling - My Manic and I
The gods that he believes never fail to amaze me
He believes in the love in his god of all things
But I find him wrapped up in all manner of sins
The drugs that deceive you and the girls that believe you
I'd heard OF Laura Marling before this year but hadn't ever actually listened to her. I remedied that and fell in love with her. This is such a gorgeous little song.
09. M.I.A. - Paper Planes
I fly like paper, get high like planes
If you catch me at the border I got visas in my name
If you come around here, I make em all day
I get one down in a second if you wait
Himself maintains that I should hate this song since it samples the Clash but then I liked Lethal Bizzle doing "Police On My Back", so. I maintain that this is actually a highly punk song. The ethos, and all. I first heard it in Slumdog Millionaire on my birthday (my one and only trip to the cinema this year) and downloaded it and the rest of her album. I love it and I love her voice.
10. Lucy Wainwright Roche - University Drive
One two three, two two three, one
Count out the dishes, they're almost done
He's working tonight yes the golden son
And I won't be waiting up
I really fell head over heels for Lucy this year. She's adorable. Much easier to relate to than Rufus, and a little more than Martha. I cannot WAIT to see her again next year. I love the tone of her voice in this, and the world-weary atmosphere to it.
11. Emmy the Great - First Love
You said I have a room
at the top of the stairs
I have a room with a view
I know we all have a cross that we bear
and I’d like to show it to you
Technically, Emmy belongs to last year, but I saw her this year, so she counts. I love this song so much. I play it far too much.
12. Dar Williams - Are You Out There (Live)
What's the future, who will choose it
Politics of love and music
Underdogs who turn the table
Indie verus major labels
There's so much to see through
Like our parents do more drugs than we do
So, funny story about Dar Williams. I knew that Sam liked her, and in October I was listening to a mix Sam made with Dar on, and I really liked the song and asked Sam for some stuff of hers. I got this back from Sam:
Are you shitting me? I will and she is playing Sheffield Memorial Hall on the 22nd and I really want to go but I didn't think anyone would be interested.... (It's a Sunday so getting the last train would be shit if I went on my own)
Fancy going at all? (You don't have to say yes btw)
So we took ourselves off to see Dar and it was one of the best gigs I've ever seen. Count me in as a fan. This song is about conspiracy theories, which I love. I did consider "The Babysitter's Here", but this won out.
13. Metric - White Gold
Hush don't explain
When you water down my name
I'll be up too late
Call me when you get
Better at your game
You haven't beat me yet
Briefly: Mike Carden has a lot to answer for.
14. Kat Flint - Christopher, You're A Soldier Now
Here's to all the others
Other people's brothers
Underneath the flag and guard they come home
Dulce et decorum, line 'em up and pour 'em
Everybody loves a man in uniform
Once again, I just hadn't taken the time to listen to Kat Flint before this year. I adore this song. I also really like Headrush. I like the backing vocals in this; they almost sound like a male voice choir.
This next section is called "But Rebs, what about the bandom?"
15. Hey Monday - Arizona
Arizona, Arizona
A car wreck on the highway
Now you're burning by the side of the road
Arizona, Arizona
Theres a million miles to Florida
Now your history, I'm stranded
Get me out, I'm going home
I suppose this also fits into the previous section, since Cass is a female vocalist. I fell in love with Hey Monday while they were supporting We The Kings (who ought to be on this list, actually) and this song is just so wonderful.
16. Sing It Loud - Marionettes
When the curtains go crash and the knees start to bend
When the filaments burst and there's no light to lead
You to anywhere useful you're severed there
All skin on skin left severed and sucking the wind
Marionettes
We met some of Sing It Loud while stalking trying to meet Cobra Starship. Pat is a complete sweetheart. I really like their album and I love the tempo of this song. Cobra aren't in this list because I have a very love/hate relationship with them. Sorry. But Sing It Loud rock! And they're on Epitaph!
17.The Academy Is... - Days Like Masquerades
Days like masquerades, silent, hiding in the shadows
Stripped of their disguise leave you haunted as you scatter
But you’re always on my mind
You’re always on my mind
I really like TAI's new EP and am looking forward to a new album. Viky, Sam and I saw them in April and had a truly excellent night sitting in a bar with them. (Most of them. It was while Adam's hand was hurt, he wasn't there, but we got Nash instead, who is cute and laughs a lot.) Some of you know the full story and some don't: suffice to say, I love these boys.
And lastly, but by no means least, this section is "Stuff wot does not fit anywhere else".
18. Liam Frost - Your Hand In Mine (feat Martha Wainwright)
Fever through my fingertips
Shook right through my spine
I can't remember where I first heard this, but I love Martha's voice in it, and it got me interested in Liam Frost. I really like his album, actually, but this is such a great song. Lauren Laverne played it on 6Music on Monday! I was impressed.
19. Peter Doherty - Last Of The English Roses
In the ‘94
We all sang
Skipping and dancing hand in hand
Yeah with all the boys together
And all the girls together
Having seen Peter twice this year I had to include him. I love Grace/Wastelands and think that as a "complete concept" it's the best thing Peter's done since Up the Bracket. It's such a lovely gander of an album. I could've chosen any of the tracks, but I chose this.
20. Malcolm Middleton - Red Travellin' Socks
I’ve grown to hate you red travelling socks
You take me away from the one I love
All you have is distance and time
I’m out of sight but I’m on her mind
It's a song about being on the road! I love them. Waxing Gibbous, the album this comes from, has been a staple of mine this year. I think Malcolm opened with this when Sam, Hannah and I saw him in June. That was a great gig. He is a great songwriter.
And there we have it :) Do tell me your opinions, likes, dislikes, and if you made a similar mix please link me to it!
(Click to download the .zip. 94mb, mostly .mp3 but has a couple of .m4a. All songs are available separately below)
I almost did this chronologically, but ended up doing it in sections. These songs are all either new out this year or new to me this year. For example, I've listened to a lot of Ryan Adams this year, but he isn't here because I didn't listen to anything new. And yes, sometimes I *am* ridiculously behind the times. Thanks.
This first section we'll call "Rebecca listened to a lot of punk and rediscovered her political side".
01. King Blues - Mr Music Man
The band they come and say they no wanna play ska
Them a wanna play emo cos that gonna go far
See them a always followin' the new incoming trend
Them a got no soul, them a so shameless
And when the dust clear, you can be sure that
I still be here skankin' in me pork pie hat
Just a drinkin' me brew and a smokin' me grass
This aint a t-shirt man, this is me heart
Sam and I saw King Blues a lot this year. Himself got into them years ago, because he is a smug fucker like that, but Sam really encouraged me to listen to them. We ended up seeing them as much as we could, and would both still go back for more. They are amazing, a really great heartfelt punk/ska band with amazing politics and sweet souls. I love them. This is the reissue of this song and references 'Radio' by Rancid (when the music hits me, I feel no pain) which is also the song I have tattooed on me, so it's even more special to me. I could have chosen any of their songs, but I chose this for that reason.
02. The Gaslight Anthem - Old White Lincoln
You and your high top sneakers and your sailor tattoos
Your old '55 that you drove through the roof
Of the sky, up above these indifferent stars
Where you just kept coming apart, straight in my arms
Right in my arms
Again, Sam got into TGA and forced me to like them. We saw them in February and at the time I hadn't listened so hard and only really knew this song. It remains my favourite. I love the story in it and the sense of ordinary-ness behind it.
03. Frank Turner - I Knew Prufrock Before He Got Famous
Justin is the last great of the romantic poets
He's the only one among us who is ever gonna make it
We planned the revolution from a cheap Southampton bistro
I don't remember details, but there were English boys with banjos
We saw Frank Turner support The Gaslight Anthem, and I had been listening in preparation. I met him and told him he was great. I know that a lot of people have gone off him now (as dachelle and I discussed last week), and I sort of see why, because he is a bit of a douche, but I really love this song and the entirety of Love, Ire and Song. Sam and I saw him in October and it was simultaneously one of the worst and one of the best gigs I've ever been to.
04. Chris Murray - We Do The Ska
The thicker the lumber, the stronger the beam
The deeper the water, the cooler the stream
Now rudie come lately all over the scene
Trading the black and white for green
Because he don't know what it mean
We do the ska
I find Chris Murray very mellow and easy to listen to. This is a great song that I thought was a classic ska song but no, it's actually his. I love it. I'd love to see him. King Blues covered this for BBC6Music, I think, and it's a really good version, but this is better.
05. Crazy Baldhead - A Boy Named Sue
Some bird would giggle and I'd get red
Some geezer would laugh and I'd kick him in the the head
This is not a cover version but more of a 're-imagining'. It's the same song as made famous by Johnny Cash (written by Shel Silverstein, I believe), but it's got a London accented boy singing, and the lyrics are slightly changed. It's absolutely immense. The guitar hook - de dee, dee de dee - is so fucking catchy. If you like cover versions, take this.
06. The Slackers - Married Girl
Married girl don't you wanna
smoke a little marijuana?
Take some time and have a drink
and think about what you gonna do to me?
Yet another ska band. Himself and I saw The Slackers in May and they're so good, so talented and like all good ska bands there's about 95 of them. This was one of Himself's Songs of the Year last year; it makes it into my list this time. I love the lead singer's voice.
07. The Skints - Sociopath
All my friends are sociopaths
It's alright, it's alright
Ahhh, the Skints. Sam and I saw the girl, Marcia, on melodica for the King Blues, and I sort of fell in love with her a bit right then. Then Himself and I saw the Skints support the Slackers and god, this band. They're soulful reggae punk. Their drummer is their lead singer. Marcia is ridiculously hot. They've just released their album and this is the version of "Sociopath" from it. The demo is good too. I'll be back with more Skints love in the New Year, I promise.
Now we get to the section of the mix called "fuck me, Rebecca listened to a lot of female singers this year".
08. Laura Marling - My Manic and I
The gods that he believes never fail to amaze me
He believes in the love in his god of all things
But I find him wrapped up in all manner of sins
The drugs that deceive you and the girls that believe you
I'd heard OF Laura Marling before this year but hadn't ever actually listened to her. I remedied that and fell in love with her. This is such a gorgeous little song.
09. M.I.A. - Paper Planes
I fly like paper, get high like planes
If you catch me at the border I got visas in my name
If you come around here, I make em all day
I get one down in a second if you wait
Himself maintains that I should hate this song since it samples the Clash but then I liked Lethal Bizzle doing "Police On My Back", so. I maintain that this is actually a highly punk song. The ethos, and all. I first heard it in Slumdog Millionaire on my birthday (my one and only trip to the cinema this year) and downloaded it and the rest of her album. I love it and I love her voice.
10. Lucy Wainwright Roche - University Drive
One two three, two two three, one
Count out the dishes, they're almost done
He's working tonight yes the golden son
And I won't be waiting up
I really fell head over heels for Lucy this year. She's adorable. Much easier to relate to than Rufus, and a little more than Martha. I cannot WAIT to see her again next year. I love the tone of her voice in this, and the world-weary atmosphere to it.
11. Emmy the Great - First Love
You said I have a room
at the top of the stairs
I have a room with a view
I know we all have a cross that we bear
and I’d like to show it to you
Technically, Emmy belongs to last year, but I saw her this year, so she counts. I love this song so much. I play it far too much.
12. Dar Williams - Are You Out There (Live)
What's the future, who will choose it
Politics of love and music
Underdogs who turn the table
Indie verus major labels
There's so much to see through
Like our parents do more drugs than we do
So, funny story about Dar Williams. I knew that Sam liked her, and in October I was listening to a mix Sam made with Dar on, and I really liked the song and asked Sam for some stuff of hers. I got this back from Sam:
Are you shitting me? I will and she is playing Sheffield Memorial Hall on the 22nd and I really want to go but I didn't think anyone would be interested.... (It's a Sunday so getting the last train would be shit if I went on my own)
Fancy going at all? (You don't have to say yes btw)
So we took ourselves off to see Dar and it was one of the best gigs I've ever seen. Count me in as a fan. This song is about conspiracy theories, which I love. I did consider "The Babysitter's Here", but this won out.
13. Metric - White Gold
Hush don't explain
When you water down my name
I'll be up too late
Call me when you get
Better at your game
You haven't beat me yet
Briefly: Mike Carden has a lot to answer for.
14. Kat Flint - Christopher, You're A Soldier Now
Here's to all the others
Other people's brothers
Underneath the flag and guard they come home
Dulce et decorum, line 'em up and pour 'em
Everybody loves a man in uniform
Once again, I just hadn't taken the time to listen to Kat Flint before this year. I adore this song. I also really like Headrush. I like the backing vocals in this; they almost sound like a male voice choir.
This next section is called "But Rebs, what about the bandom?"
15. Hey Monday - Arizona
Arizona, Arizona
A car wreck on the highway
Now you're burning by the side of the road
Arizona, Arizona
Theres a million miles to Florida
Now your history, I'm stranded
Get me out, I'm going home
I suppose this also fits into the previous section, since Cass is a female vocalist. I fell in love with Hey Monday while they were supporting We The Kings (who ought to be on this list, actually) and this song is just so wonderful.
16. Sing It Loud - Marionettes
When the curtains go crash and the knees start to bend
When the filaments burst and there's no light to lead
You to anywhere useful you're severed there
All skin on skin left severed and sucking the wind
Marionettes
We met some of Sing It Loud while stalking trying to meet Cobra Starship. Pat is a complete sweetheart. I really like their album and I love the tempo of this song. Cobra aren't in this list because I have a very love/hate relationship with them. Sorry. But Sing It Loud rock! And they're on Epitaph!
17.The Academy Is... - Days Like Masquerades
Days like masquerades, silent, hiding in the shadows
Stripped of their disguise leave you haunted as you scatter
But you’re always on my mind
You’re always on my mind
I really like TAI's new EP and am looking forward to a new album. Viky, Sam and I saw them in April and had a truly excellent night sitting in a bar with them. (Most of them. It was while Adam's hand was hurt, he wasn't there, but we got Nash instead, who is cute and laughs a lot.) Some of you know the full story and some don't: suffice to say, I love these boys.
And lastly, but by no means least, this section is "Stuff wot does not fit anywhere else".
18. Liam Frost - Your Hand In Mine (feat Martha Wainwright)
Fever through my fingertips
Shook right through my spine
I can't remember where I first heard this, but I love Martha's voice in it, and it got me interested in Liam Frost. I really like his album, actually, but this is such a great song. Lauren Laverne played it on 6Music on Monday! I was impressed.
19. Peter Doherty - Last Of The English Roses
In the ‘94
We all sang
Skipping and dancing hand in hand
Yeah with all the boys together
And all the girls together
Having seen Peter twice this year I had to include him. I love Grace/Wastelands and think that as a "complete concept" it's the best thing Peter's done since Up the Bracket. It's such a lovely gander of an album. I could've chosen any of the tracks, but I chose this.
20. Malcolm Middleton - Red Travellin' Socks
I’ve grown to hate you red travelling socks
You take me away from the one I love
All you have is distance and time
I’m out of sight but I’m on her mind
It's a song about being on the road! I love them. Waxing Gibbous, the album this comes from, has been a staple of mine this year. I think Malcolm opened with this when Sam, Hannah and I saw him in June. That was a great gig. He is a great songwriter.
And there we have it :) Do tell me your opinions, likes, dislikes, and if you made a similar mix please link me to it!