This month’s cover image by Cathleen Tarawhiti.
Please remember to respect copyright law; if you like a song from the mix, there’s a very good chance you will also like the album – so do me and the artist a favour and buy the CD.
April 10 Music Mix Notes
[01] Solitary Breathing – Voice of the Seven Woods [The Journey]
Voice of the Seven Woods is a project by Bolton based musician, Rick Tomlinson who with Chris Walmsley on drums and Pete Hedley on bass make a nice little sound. I bought this EP about a year ago from a dump bin in Virgin for QAR 10 (about 2 quid) and simply love the way it floats outta of the speakers and caresses one’s ears. Haven’t been able to buy anymore of these guys but they are high on my shopping list in the summer. Plus it’s a fab way to start April’s Music Mix – welcome aboard my friends.
[02] The Marshall Tucker Band – Take the Highway [Way Out West Live From San Francisco 1973]
These guys have been playing together in some shape or form since the early 70′s and although they have never reached the commercial heights of some of their more well-known Southern Rock counterparts, they have recorded and performed a true Southern sound for nearly 40 years – always to a high quality.
Probably their best known album is Carolina Dreams that went platinum in 1977 – but I had forgotten about these guys until I heard Take the Highway in Kevin Costner’s 2008 movie Swing Vote which prompted me to buy their live album (Way Out West) as well as Carolina Dreams and both are recommended.
[03] Bryce Janey – Funky Guitar Blues [Blues In My Soul]
This guy began his career at thirteen in a blues trio called The Janeys. With his mother on drums and his father Billy Lee on guitar. They played regionally and nationally from Chicago to Los Angeles. Between 1991 and 1993 where they performed with Buddy Guy, Blues Traveler, Koko Taylor, and Elvin Bishop to name just a few. Some pedigree huh!
I’ve recently been listening to more and more of this type of music (must be the influence of URD and Spacey) as I can’t seem to find that many rock bands that are making good albums these days. Aynsley Lister, Joe Bonamassa, Derek Trucks et al seem to be doing the business, and while I don’t think I’m going to love all blues guitars, this rockier stuff is just perfect.
[04] Lindsey Buckingham – Wait for You [Gift of Screws]
A very good album (Gift of Screws) by a very talented guy with John McVie on bass and Mick Fleetwood on drums – who could ask for more. I loved Fleetwood Mac (from Rumours on) and this must be his best solo work since those heady days demonstrating all that was good about the Mac.
[05] Kula Shaker – Shower Your Love [Peasants, Pigs & Astronauts]
I was looking through my CD collection the other day when out popped Peasants, Pigs & Astronauts and I just had to play it. Very soon I was back in 1999 and remembering that these guys were more than Britpop rejects they were psychedelic rockers, groovy indie popsters and even prog rocks when the mood took them – shame that Crispian Mills was such an arsehole.
[06] Neil Murray – Burrembeep Hill [Witness]
Neil Murray is an Australian musician, writer and founding member of the Warumpi Band that formed in the early 1980s. They were the first major Aboriginal rock band releasing three albums and toured widely, including the Blackfella/Whitefella Tour with Midnight Oil in 1986. Murray is known for his political opinions and environmental concerns and this song showcases these concerns – very simple – but very true – something that this guy does very well.
[07] Black Smoke | [08] Falling Down a Mountain | [09] Keep You Beautiful – Tindersticks [Falling Down a Mountain]
Three marvelous songs that highlight all that is good about them and their latest album. As I mention in my Album of the Month post, these guys just don’t make a bad album and this one is up there with their best.
[10] Jonatha Brooke – You’d Ought To be Satisfied Now [The Works]
First heard about this lady on Pat Methany’s website and decided to take a chance even though I didn’t know too much about Woody Gutherie – glad I did. The album is first class and already a favorite with LZ.
Good website with notes on each song – this is for You’d Ought To be Satisfied Now:
“This one turned in to one swampy romp. Steve and Joe heard it in a kind of low muddy two, even though the chart was written with my more frantic 6/8 guitar part as the base. I love the push and pull that created. Then Greg Leisz came in and stuck it all together with that sexy lap steel. I also got such a kick out of singing that line “so tonight I’m a bum on a frisco bound train” ? something I thought I’d never do in my lifetime!! I changed the last verse to “a thousand cold dollars you spent every day” to keep up with inflation. (Woody’s original lyric had “a hundred cold dollars.”)
You jacked me up and you run me down
You nagged at me and you bawled me out
You made me leave town and I’m frisco bound
You’d ought to be satisfied now.
You took my silver, you took my gold,
You made me believe every lie that you told
You left me a standing out there in the cold
You’d ought to be satisfied now.
I’m down in this gutter I’m hungry, I’m cold,
You’re drinking and gambling and wasting our dough
You’ll never pay back that money you owe (yes, you owe)
You’d ought to be satisfied now.
You went around with whoever you pleased
I stood in the rain in my B. V. D.’s
There was times when I thought I would freeze
You’d ought to be satisfied now.
You got a new lover richer than me
You got a car and a boat on the sea
You spend all her money just to go on a spree
You’d ought to be satisfied now.
I’m down in this gutter I’m hungry, I’m cold,
You’re drinking and gambling and wasting our dough
You’ll never pay back that money you owe (yes, you owe)
You’d ought to be satisfied now.
I once had a fortune, you took that away,
A thousand cold dollars you spent every day
Tonight I’m a bum on a frisco bound train
You’d ought to be satisfied now
[11] Gorillaz – On Melancholy Hill [Plastic Beach]
Murdoc explained: “The melancholy hill – it’s that feeling, that place, that you get in your soul sometimes, like someone’s let your tyres down.” I know that feeling, bet we all do and I bet we’ll all be humming this little ditty in the shower (well maybe not everyone) sometime soon.
[12] Field Music – Give It Lose It Take It [Tones of Town]
Field Music are a great band with this album nearly making it as my Album of the Month. I first heard of these guys, who originally hail from Sunderland, when I bought their Tones of Town album in 2007 – every time I play it I hear 10CC, Supertramp, and XTC which can’t be a bad thing. Looking forward to their new album Measure. Lyrics are nice and sharp too.
Give it away
Nothing’s worth keeping that you can’t sayLose it, strip yourself down
Its giving away can always be foundAll that you have is all that you need to be
Take it, knock yourself out
You need what you want and what you need is nowToo many times to live again
You can’t speak so what did you mean(?)All that you have is all that you need to be
First out, last in, time is passing, future changing, action waiting, colder, warmer, days are longer, tasting, waiting, complicating
Can comforts place be ours to keep
From hours to days, from days to weeks
Guest spot 3-in-a-row: Writers Theme
Words and track selection by Sin AgainTo be honest, I’m a bit nervous here following in the footsteps of the great Mr. SP as guest blogger but I’ll give it my best. That’s why I tried to have a theme running through it, a writers theme (Editors, Magazine, A Writers Reference) – get it?!
[13] Editors – Papillion [In This Light And On This Evening]
My fav song of 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 end of story.
[14] Magazine – Philadelphia [The Correct Use of Soap]
My brother’s friends were all Magazine nuts but as Mr. LD had already picked Da moon song I had to go for my 2nd fav song.
[15] Halifax – A Writer’s Reference [A Writer's Reference]
I could tell you that I luv this band etc. etc. but really I did a search for bands or songs with writer in the title and as I’m not a big Beatles fan (Paperback Writer) I purchased this song to complete my writers theme 3-in-a-row. It’s a good song though.
[16] Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – Refugee [Damn the Torpedoes]
Great song from their third album Damn the Torpedoes which finally made them in the States. Just love Benmont Tench’s organ (his real name) and again there’s such a catchy chorus – perfect American rock.
[17] Willy Mason – Gotta Keep Walking [If The Ocean Gets Rough]
For some reason I thought this guy was dead! Don’t ask me why just did. Anyway I’m glad he’s not cos this song and album are just great and in a genre that is overflowing you have to be a bit special, have that something extra to get you noticed – this guy has it all in spades, it’s called quality. His last album Where the Humans Eat has 21 out of 24 five star reviews on Amazon.co.uk – that’s pretty impressive and another one to add to my summer shopping list.
On the road, no way home,
Guess I gotta keep rollin’ on til the lights come on.I’ll sing a song, it won’t take long,
Shut my eyes and I’m back where I belong
In trouble’s arms
Singing mama’s songs when the lights come on.She said, ‘we’ve gotta keep walking, keep walking.’
She said, ‘we’ve gotta keep walking on.’I had a dream late last night,
Someone stole my boots in broad daylight.
I put up no fight.
They were out of sight, I still felt alright.So I walked on, barefoot, strong,
All the other troops marched towards the bomb,
But I wandered off.
They said, ‘man, what’s wrong?’
I said, ‘the light turned on.’She said, ‘we’ve gotta keep walking, keep walking.’
She said, ‘we’ve gotta keep walking on.’We lost the highway
With smoke in our eyes.
With these hands and this place,
We will spread our own design.
Spread our own design.She said, ‘we’ve gotta keep walking, keep walking.’
She said, ‘we’ve gotta keep walking on.’She said, ‘we’ve gotta keep walking, keep walking.’
She said, ‘we’ve gotta keep walking on.’She said, ‘we’ve gotta keep walking, keep walking.’
She said, ‘we’ve gotta keep walking on.”
[18] Turin Brakes – Sea Change [Outbursts]
The Optimist was such a grand affair, such a solid debut album that’s it’s always going to be hard to maintain this kind of musical brilliance. If I was honest, I would say that subsequent albums did not live up to the brilliance of the first album and I haven’t bought any of their CDs since JackInABox. But their latest maybe their greatest – it’s certainly as good as their debut, if not better as they have matured their sound but kept to the same style that won over so many hearts and minds in 2001.
[19] The Doors – Spanish Caravan [Waiting For The Sun]
I’m not a big fan – but I walked into my son’s bedroom the other day and he was playing along to this on his bass – just a great song – no other reason straight from bedroom to music mix in less than 4 minutes.
[20] Shearwater – The Hunter’s Star [Rook]
Shearwaters are medium-sized long-winged seabirds. They are also an indie rock band formed in Austin, Texas in 1999 by Okkervil River members Jonathan Meiburg and Will Sheff who apparently have a love of birds. I feel I can hear the inspiration of Talk Talk’s later records, particularly in Meiburg’s voice as he unleashes his wonderful falsetto voice while somehow managing to restrain himself. It’s also in the piano intro and the wonderful climax which drifts towards atmospheric with a capital A.
[21] New Order – Blue Monday [Substance 1987]
Who needs words? Listen: enjoy.
The April 2010 Mix has now expired but the latest mixes are now ready – go read all about them!
Please support the artists – if you like a track, buy the album!
…and I hope you’ve enjoyed another Music Mix. Until the next time.
Laughing Dog
Just downloading the mix now. Haven’t listened to any of it yet, but Maximum Respect for “Blue Monday”. Finally. Now I stand here waiting ….
URaveyD – I had a feeling that you’d like that track……….now let’s have some feedback from you on the Mix
Ok, so for me, probably the best mix yet. More mellow than most. Don’t QUITE know how Blue Monday ended up making this mix, but I still like that it’s there.
Solitary Breathing. I like. Reminds me of the motion picture soundtrack for “The Hot Spot” (John Lee Hooker, Miles Davis, Taj Mahal, Roy Rogers, Tim Drummond, Earl Palmer, Bradford Ellis). Also a bit of some of Ry Cooder’s movie work (“Angola”, “Canoes Upstream”, “Houston in Two Seconds” et al).
Funky Guitar Blues I would’ve pegged as Robert Cray, were it not for the vocals.
Lindsey Buckingham reminded me to grab a quick listen to “I’d Rather go Blind” by Christine McVie with Chickenshack. Then I came back to type this. Then I went to bed. More musings to follow. Maybe.
UnkrDavey – Blue Monday is possibly the finest 7 minutes and 29 seconds of the ’80s, it could be included in any mix as its just an incredible song.
Looking at The Hot Spot on Amazon – looks good may buy it. Don’t have too many soundtracks as I often feel that they can made for the movie and listening to them in isolation doesn’t do them justice. Saying that the one I do have such as Ry Cooder’s ‘Paris Texas’ and Peter Gabriel’s ‘Passion’ are excellent albums in their own right.
Chickenshack now there’s a band I don’t know much about – more investigation required.
Thanks URDavey
Thanks to Sin Again for his 3-in-a-row – like the Magazine track and Papillon is actually a good song if you listen to it. Nice idea to have theme to the 3 songs – good one.
Next months 3-in-a-row is by LZ
Then I believe June is for URD and July for Strappy or Ken
Where’s Ken gone??
Mr LD glad you like my 3-in-a-row it was abit hard to know who to have especially when you have some guys on here with fantastic music tastes it can feel abit like your first day at comp with all the 6 formers throwing things at you bit scary like
The rest of the mix is great as usual with me buying Field Music, Gorillaz and Tindersticks when in UK. Love the first two but not so sure about Tindersticks its all well produced and everything but it just seems to go no where and I have played it a few times to see if it gets better and for me in dont
Hi Sinny – no prob glad you bought and tried that’s half the battle. They can be an acquired taste plus you have to be in the right mood – it ain’t dance music for sure.
I’m really falling behind here, I have to catch up fast as I am off on holiday in 2 weeks time. Just downloading the mix now, looks interesting. Unlike Mr D, I am a big Doors fan so it’s good to see them on there. Another couple of not heard in years oldies in the shape of Turin Brakes and Kula Shaker, with a few unknowns thrown in. Evening entertainment sorted methinks.
Will report back soon as…
Hi Spacey – when are you going on your hols? Let me know and I’ll post May’s Music Mix early so can take with you – me thinks you will like
We leave on Tuesday 27th April. Only going for one week just now as I have to save most of my holiday allowance for later in the year.
We’re off to Turkey this time. Can anyone recommend some local bands worth investigating? And of course I will like the mix. Despite what I say sometimes, it’s always worth listening to. OK so I don’t always like everything offered, but at least it gives me the chance to find out if I like the bands or not.
OK so it took a while but I got there. Only thing now is, that blooming volcano appears to wreaking havoc with our holiday plans. My friend Paddy’s suggestion is to get a couple of lads up there with shovels and a couple of cans of Guiness (well he is Irish).
Anyway, just in case it does decide to behave itself, I thought I would give my monthly words of wisdom before I go.
Solitary Breathing – Voice of the Seven Woods: Seems like a couple of quid well spent Mr D. So often the reason certain CDs end up in the bargain bin is obvious as soon as they are placed into the CD player. Looks like this is a lucky exception. It doesn’t really go anywhere, but maybe that the point of it, just seems to float along dreamily, nice one.
The Marshall Tucker Band – Take the Highway: One of the good things about these mixes is that we are given the opportunity to listen in to all those bands that we always intended to listen, but just haven’t got there yet. This for me is another of those. So what do I reckon? Quite simply – stunning! Frenetic guitar work, genuine rootsy vocals and probably the best flute playing this side of Jethro Tull. My birthday is coming up soon, Mrs SP, I hope you’re paying attention.
Bryce Janey – Funky Guitar Blues: Does exactly what it says on the tin – funky guitar blues of quality. Haven’t had much of a chance to listen to very much of this dude yet, but I like what I hear.
And Mr D, you really do need to go and find some Chickenshack. Now why haven’t we included Stan Webb in that guitarist list Uncle RD?
Lindsey Buckingham – Wait for You: I’m not much of a fan of post Peter Green Fleetwood Mac with the exception of a couple of songs on Rumours. This sounds as if it could have come from the Mac rather than a Buckingham solo, and quite frankly, it doesn’t really do much for me.
Kula Shaker – Shower Your Love: In 2000 we were at the V Festival. Placebo were due to play on the Saturday and we were looking forward to that one. But in the morning we had the radio on and the announcement came on that Placebo were out and were being substituted by Kula Shaker. Quite honestly, Kula Shaker for me were the highlight of that weekend. Sun shining, beers etc flowing, and this band plugging away – all was right with the world. Great song from a great LP. Doesn’t get played that often around here these days, but a great example of early 21st century psychedelia. Anyone know whatever happened to them?
Neil Murray – Burrembeep Hill: Never heard of this guy before now, certainly going to have to dig a bit further.Seems to have a really clever way with words, very thought provoking. Definitely a song to chill out with on summer afternoons, very good.
Black Smoke, Falling Down a Mountain,Keep You Beautiful – Tindersticks: Not going to go into each track individually, no need to. Lets just say that Mr D had me scurrying off to Amazon as soon as I heard his previous sample from this CD. Haven’t managed to get the BBS C sessions one yet, but got this one and Can Our Love… Both great albums with no filler tracks. I like that, when you get a CD and know that you can play it right through and not hear a duff track. To have two from a new (to me) band at once is pure nirvana.
Jonatha Brooke – You’d Ought To be Satisfied Now: My discovery of Pat Metheny goes on and on (well there’s a lot to get through) but I hadn’t come across this lady before. Sounds OK, nothing to get too excited about though. On the subject of Woody Guthrie, I noticed that his son, Arlo is coming to town next month. Anyone remember Coming In To Los Angeles? Should be a good night.
Gorillaz – On Melancholy Hill: Bland, twee and not very interesting at all. Think I’ll leave this one for the teenies. Mr D, you can be sure that I won’t be humming this one in the shower.
Field Music – Give It Lose It Take It: I don’t know why, but although I can hear the Supertramp influence in there, all I really hear is 90′s Yes played quite shockingly! Please Mr D, restrain yourself from making this abomination your album of the month, you will live to regret it.
Editors – Papillion: I remember this one from a few months back Mr SA. I wasn’t too harsh on it back then (apart from the video) and I’m not going to be today either. It does have a sort of sound that gradually draws you in. I haven’t explored this band much further yet, but maybe some day I will get around to it.
Magazine – Philadelphia: Your brother and his mates must have a good taste in music SA. Magazine were probably one of the best of their time, this is possibly one their best songs from that era too. Nice and punchy without being over aggressive. Good choice.
Halifax – A Writer’s Reference: What format was this one uploaded in Mr D, wouldn’t play in Windows Media Player, had to use Winamp. Anyway, never heard of them before, probably never will again, and the worst of it is, I probably won’t even remember them by tomorrow. At least I remember a band if I don’t like them, sorry to say that but I can’t even say that about this lot, just instantly forgettable.
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – Refugee: I have very vague memories of seeing Tom Petty long long ago. Think it was Glasgow Apollo, anyone remember that place? Anyway, from what I can recall, he was much better in concert than on record. This song is decent enough, don’t get me wrong, but it really does need that kick in the butt than any Glasgow audience demands.
Willy Mason – Gotta Keep Walking: At last I have beaten the master at something, I already have Where the Humans Eat. I don’t have this one though, going by this track alone, you really do need to get Where the Humans Eat. It seems to show another side to him and, for me anyway, is much much better than this one.
Turin Brakes – Sea Change: I though The Optimist was a great CD for its time. But I never realised they ever done anything after that, kinda fell off the radar a bit. Good to see that they are still going. I don’t think this song will break any new ground for them sadly. Oh its a jolly enough little tune all right, just seems to be missing a spark somewhere.
The Doors – Spanish Caravan: I love the sound of that Spanish guitar, I love Morrison’s voice, I can’t think of a poor track that The Doors ever done, quite simply, although not mentioned on this site yet, one of my very favourite bands.
Shearwater – The Hunter’s Star: Another new band for me. You can’t half dig them out can you Mr D? Good song, drifts along nicely. I would have to hear a little bit more before being convinced to go and buy. Can’t really hear Talk Talk in it though.
New Order – Blue Monday: What’s not to like about this one then? I know that it wouldn’t normally be the sort of thing that I would listen to, but even I can appreciate a good beat.
Best ones this month would have to be The Marshall Tucker Band and Tindersticks. With The Doors and Kula Shaker in there we have a good mix. OK so as usual there are one or two I didn’t like, but them I can be a hard man to please!
There we go, if anyone has any ideas how to snuff out the volcano so I can go on holiday let me know.
Note to S’pig re Kula Shaker:
“Peasants, Pigs & Astronauts” was re-released in a 10th Anniversary, 2 CD edition on January 20, 2010 on their own label with additional bonus tracks, interviews and artwork. Only 3000 copies were pressed and it was only available through their official website. The 10th Anniversary edition of the album includes an expanded running order of the original album with the outtake song “Strangefolk” included, as the band originally intended. This edition also contains previously unreleased demos, alternate versions of songs and new artwork.
A new album called “Pilgrim’s Progress” will be released in 2010.
On March 1 2010, the full tracklisting for “Pilgrim’s Progress” was released on the band’s website. The track listing is as follows: ‘Peter Pan R.I.P’, ‘Barbara Ella’, ‘Modern Blues’, ‘Sweet Sympathy’, ‘Cavalry’, ‘Will my true love wait?’, ‘Ophelia’, ‘For a few Yen more’, ‘Figure it out’, ‘Only Love’ and ‘Winter’s Call’. ‘Peter Pan R.I.P’ was announced as the first single from the album. The album will also include various bonus tracks depending on the edition. The album will be released first in Japan in May, and the band are officially announced to play the 2010 Fuji Rock festival there.