For me, two songs that defined the 1990′s were ‘Unfinished Sympathy’ by Massive Attack and ‘Creep’ by Radiohead. Two songs that are good enough to grace any decade, two songs that are simply outstanding. But musically, how good was this decade? I’ve selected another fourteen songs that I think deserve to be heard – but what do you think?

What were your musical highlights of the 90′s?

01. Unfinished Sympathy – Massive Attack (Blue Lines)
02. Starseed – Our Lady Peace (A Decade)
03. Last Goodbye – Jeff Buckley (Grace)
04. Midnight In A Perfect World – DJ Shadow (Endtroducing…)
05. Iris – Goo Goo Dolls (Dizzy Up the Girl)
06. Cannonball – Albert Lee (Speechless)
07. Joga – Bjork (Greatest Hits)
08. Mr. Jones – Counting Crows (Best Of)
09. Little Fluffy Clouds – The Orb (The Orb’s Adventures Beyond The Ultraworld)
10. Wonderful – Everclear (Songs From An American Movie Vol. One: Learning How To Smile)
11. Loser – Beck (Mellow Gold)
12. Babys Coming Back – Jellyfish (Bellybutton)
13. Fade Into You – Mazzy Star (So Tonight That I Might See)
14. Longing In Their Hearts – Bonnie Raitt (Grammy Nominees 1995)
15. It Will Rain For A Million Years – Porcupine Tree (On The Sunday Of Life…)
16. Creep – Radiohead (Pablo Honey)

The Unfinished Creep mix (116 mb) will be available here to download for the next fortnight (until midnight on 22 February 2011).

To celebrate the New Year this month’s mix will be a double mix – “yay and good health to the dog” I hear you cry. 44 songs to dance to, to sing to, to drive to, to listen to the Queen’s Speech to, to make mad passionate love to, to enjoy, to (hopefully) make you go “mmm… I like that”.

Apart from some new songs, I have incorporated songs into this mix that I have discovered throughout the year and not found room for in a previous mix – and I’ve have been pleasantly surprised how good 2010 sounded.

So all that’s left for me to say is thanks to all my regular contributors for making this year a special year for MFTM and thanks to all who visit the site for the music but don’t leave a comment, hopefully next year you will become part of this little adventure as well.

Health and Happiness to all.

[01] Farewell To The Sands – Ilham Al Madfai [Weast One]
Only temporarily as I’m heading back to sunny South Wales to spend Christmas with me Dad and Mam for the first time in 7 years. All family there as well so it should be a special time for all. Ilham al-Madfai is an Iraqi guitarist, singer and composer nicknamed the ‘the Baghdad Beatle’ – trying to think of a Beatles song to put here now as funny end to comment but can’t think of one. “Help!”

[02] Dreams – TV on the Radio [Desperate Youth, Bloodthirsty Babes]
Love these guys – don’t play them enough. They can be hard work but just listen to the beat of this thing going round and round your brain – good stuff.

[03] Get Back in Line – Motörhead [The World Is Yours]
I don’t normally do requests on here but Spacey begged and begged me to include this track and Silent Night by Annie Lennox – so how could I refuse. It’s not a bad song and I love the fact that Lemmy is still standing (just) but what would Fast Eddie think the guitar player is carp. Eddie’s a Bank Manager now with Nationwide bet he wishes he was an axe man again – I know I do.

[04] It All Went Down the Drain – Boz Scaggs [The Best Blues Album In The World...Ever]
One of those guys that you know the name but can’t really place what he has done. Which is a shame as this guy is good – Silk Degrees is only one example of how good this guy is. In the summer of 2010, Just toured with Donald Fagen and Michael McDonald. Now that I would like to have seen.

[05] Hurricane Season – Trombone Shorty [Backatown]
You don’t see many trombones on the ‘X’ factor do you? Come to think of it you don’t see many trombones anywhere these days. Maybe it’s time to start a campaign? Anyway, what’s not to like about this song, it’s funky, it’s fruity, and it makes my dear wife shake her lovely peachy bum to it – enough already.

[06] Blue Hour – Turin Brakes [Ether Song]
I can remember everyone loving the band’s 2001 debut album The Optimist LP – it’s a remarkable album but their follow up kinda got lost in the critical haze of that debut. Which is a shame as it’s a really good album, more electronica than the first one but still very, very good.

[07] Luktar-Gvendur – Björk [Gling-Glo]
Just been reading an article on Lady Gaga – now I don’t know the first thing about her (him) but when she’s called the most original female artist of the last 20 years I kinda lose all respect for the arsehole who’s bashing his keyboard in the hope that something that resembles critique will spew out – what a load of tosh. This lady (Bjork I mean) is just unique, amazing, unbelievable (shall I stop now) – you get the picture. This track is from Bjork’s debut solo album (she did make one with a band) – it’s raw in places but shows that she was full of talent then and got even better. Apparently this song is about watching two sheep walking across a field to settle down in a hole to brave the onset of winter with nothing to live for except each other’s company and the promise of a potato come Spring – sounds a bit like Treorchy at the moment.

[08] to [13] Albums of the Month (yes albumS – I have three of them)
Stephen Stills – Just Roll Tape: April 26th, 1968
Fistful of Mercy – As I Call You Down
Treetop Flyers – To Bury The Past

3 albums, 3 artists – all with a common bond. It’s just them, a guitar and whole bunch of great songs. And it’s just perfect for this time of year – enjoy.

[14] Only Fools On Horse – Teeth of the Sea [Orphaned By The Ocean]
I’m sure all these guys do in the studio is press record, turn everything up really loud and wait for noises to ‘appear’ – think collective spontaneous combustion. One can almost hear the beads of sweat dripping down the forearm of the bass player as he fights once again with his ‘E’ string. Tis good to hear there’s still people in this world willing, able and more than capable to make music like this.

[15] Tai Shan – Rush [Hold Your Fire]
Not the album everyone thinks of when discussing Rush – but it does have its moments. Force Ten and Time Stand Still are great tracks of course but when one delves a little deeper one finds the hidden gems like Mission, High Water and this track, Tai Shan. Strangely translated from Mandarin as “he who walks slightly to the left” – we all know what that means yeah?

[16] Everybody Loves The Sunshine – Roy Ayers [Everybody Loves The Sunshine]
Roy Ayers (born September 10, 1940) is an American funk, soul, and jazz composer and vibraphone player. Ayers began his career as a jazz player, releasing several albums with Atlantic Records before his tenure at Polydor Records, during which he progressed to a new R&B style. And as the dark days of winter are upon my family and friends in the UK, I thought it would be a good song to cheer your spirits or replenish you glass with spirits – whichever you like.

[17] I Don’t Know What It Is – Rufus Wainwright [Want One]
It’s a shame that this guy writes so much tosh and cabaret style stuff and loses sight of where he should be – as he is unique and a very talented songwriter, as this song and album demonstrate.

“I Don’t Know What It Is”
I don’t know what it is
But you got to do it
I don’t know where to go
But you got to be there
I don’t know where to fall
But I know that its comfortable where
I don’t know where it is

Putting all of my time
In learning to care
And a bucket of rhymes
I threw up somewhere
Want a locket of who
Made me lose my perfunctory view
Of all that is around
And of all that I do

So I knock on the door
Take a step that is new
Never been here before
Is there anyone else here too
In love with beauty
Playing all of the games
Who thinks three’s company
Is there anyone else who wears slightly mysterious brusies
I don’t know what it is

Take a lookin around
At friendly faces
All declaring a war on far off places
Is there anyone else who is through with complaining about what’s
Done unto us

So I knock on the door
And I am on a train
Going god knows where to
To get me over
To get me over

Give me heaven or hell
Calais or Dover

I was hoping the train
Was my big number
Stopping in Santa Fe and the Atchison-Topeka
Though I’m chugging along, put away by the crossing hand
We’ll be heading for Portland, or Limburgh or Lower Manhattan
Find myself running around

I don’t know what it is so get me over
I don’t know what it is so get me over
I don’t know what it is so get me over
To get me over
You gotta do it.
You gotta be there.

[18] to [20] Alex Lifeson 3-in-a-row

[18] I Am The Spirit – Alex Lifeson [Victor]
[19] Like A Girl – I Mother Earth [Scenery And Fish]
[20] Sacred & Mundane – Tiles [Fly Paper]

Without doubt my favourite guitarist, even though SRV came close recently. But I grew up with this guy, grew up being mesmerized by this guy, grew up being entertained by this guy, grew up wanting to play guitar like this guy. I have so many good good memories of listening to Rush and the sound of Alex Lifeson – one minute soft acoustic sublimeness, the next having my socks blown off with one of his power riffs – the man made my life a bit more bearable at 14.

And now 30 odd years later I still have my moments with Alex (born Aleksandar Živojinovi?) and he’s still going strong with a new Rush album soon and touring North America next year.

Alex has also contributed to other artists’ work, including the Platinum Blonde album Alien Shores (1985) two tracks on Tom Cochrane’s Ragged Ass Road album and then in 1996 on I Mother Earth’s “Like a Girl” from the Scenery and Fish album. Recently, Alex made a guest appearance on the 2007 album Fear of a Blank Planet by Porcupine Tree, contributing a solo during the song ‘Anesthetize’. He also appears on the 2008 album Fly Paper by Detroit progressive rockers, Tiles. He plays on the track “Sacred and Mundane”. And you can hear two of these here along with a track from his solo album. One thing is for sure, you can hear Alex in each song as he adds his own style and approach.

[21] Blues Part 4 – Al Kooper [You Never Know Who Your Friends Are]
Mr. Kooper (no relation to Alice) has worked with them all – from Bob Dylan to The Tubes to Jeff “Skunk” Baxter (who?).

There’s a lovely story from Dylan’s “Like a Rolling Stone” session.

Kooper had been invited to the session as an observer, and hoped to be allowed to sit in on guitar, his primary instrument. Kooper uncased his guitar and began tuning it. After hearing Mike Bloomfield, the hired guitarist for the sessions, warming up in the room, Kooper concluded that Bloomfield was a much better guitarist, so Kooper put his guitar aside and retreated into the control room.

As the recording sessions for the single “Like a Rolling Stone” progressed, keyboardist Paul Griffin was moved from the Hammond organ to piano. Kooper quickly suggested to producer Tom Wilson that he had a “great organ part” for the song (which he later confessed was just a ruse to play in the session), and Wilson responded, “Al, you’re not an organ player, you’re a guitar player”, but Kooper did not retreat this time. Before Wilson could explicitly reject Kooper’s suggestion, Wilson was interrupted by a phone call in the control room. Kooper immediately went into the studio and sat down at the organ, though he had rarely played organ before the session. Wilson soon returned, and was shocked to find Kooper in the studio. By this time, Kooper had been playing along with Dylan and crew, his organ can be heard coming in an eighth-note just behind the other members of the band, as Kooper followed to make sure he was playing the right chords. During a playback of tracks in the control room, when asked about the organ track, Dylan was emphatic: “Turn the organ up!”

As chronicled in the 2005 Martin Scorsese documentary film, No Direction Home.

[22] Silent Night – Annie Lennox [A Christmas Cornucopia]
You have to blame Spacey for this – as I mentioned with the Motorhead track, he begged and begged me… and as I hate to see a grown pig cry I said yes.

Music Mix 17 ~ January 2011 Vol. 2

[01] Albatross – The Besnard Ladies [The Besnard Lakes Are the Roaring Night]
Is it a bird? Is it a cover? No it’s The Besnard Ladies on top form with the stand out track from their latest LP. The Besnard Lakes are a Canadian band, fronted by the husband and wife team of Jace Lasek and Olga Goreas and one can hear so many influences – Beach Boys, ELO, Gram Parsons, Shaking Stevens (OK made the last one up) but it’s all good and almost made my album of the month twice this year.

[02] Undertow – Warpaint [The Fool]
Impossible not to like this song, with layer upon layer of sound. Particularly impressed with the way these four young ladies have mixed together their high vocals with a lovely low driving bass – good things to come from this band me think. Warpaint have just been nominated for the BBC’s Sound of 2011 poll – does this mean I’m becoming populist?

[03] Rock Dust Light Star – Jamiroquai [Rock Dust Light Star]
Pronounced d???m?r?kwa?? Heard Mr. Cheezy say that he’d bought the album and it was good, so I thought if it’s good enough for the Cheese then it’s good enough for me. And, while there are a few lightweight tracks, the album is good, with this song providing me with a chance to jump up on my neighbour’s Land Crusier, put a funny hat on and groove.

[04] Like A California King – Everclear [So Much for the Afterglow]
I don’t normally like hidden tracks, can’t understand why they exist and loathe the fact that you have a long gap in between. But couldn’t resist this one because (A) Like A California King is a great song; (B) The hidden track has the word Christmas in it and (C) I didn’t know how to delete the hidden track.

[05] Wadi Dhar – Alan Davey [Bedouin]
Words from Spacey on this one:

“I have to admit, I never really took to Alan Davey in a big way. Always thought of him as an inferior Lemmy. For that reason I never got around to buying any of his solo CDs.

Then, one time when Hawkwind played Aberdeen, he ended up back at my flat with the rest of them. And what a really great guy he turned out to be. Always looking to find music a little bit well, out of the ordinary. Of course that meant he had a field time in my place. Think he ended up copying about 50 CDs from my collection that night.”

Thanks Spacey.

[06] Presence of the Lord – Lizz Wright [Fellowship]
An excellent cover of the Clapton song by an American born jazz singer and composer. As you know I don’t always like covers but when someone takes a song and makes it their own, one has to sit back, take a sip, close eyes and enjoy – as I have done several times with this song.

[07] Please Take – Wire [Red Barked Tree]
Wire’s debut album, Pink Flag (1977), was mostly a punk album with several songs under a minute in length; Field Day For The Sundays is only 28 seconds long. I can’t lie to you and say I was fan, but an old school friend was and he recently sent me this track from their next album due for release next month (Thanks Mr. P). First thing I liked about the song was that it lasted 3 minutes 50 seconds, secondly it just flows along like a camel on ice – great song.

[08] to [12] Mannequin – Various Artists
One of the joys of music is discovering new artists, new songs, new albums. I also sometimes enjoy not knowing anything about the artist – being content to simply enjoy the music. This album is a good example of that. I bought the CD in a local DVD/Music shop ‘cos I liked the red cover, inside were just band names and song names – so I have no idea who any of these guys are and don’t really care too much as the songs are just great.

[13] You Keep on Moving – Deep Purple [Come Taste the Band]
So much nonsense and tosh written about this album. Some hate, some love – me I like, not love. It’s not their best album but has given me moments of musical pleasure… now ain’t that what’s it all about. Top marks to Kevin Shirley, the remixes are excellent.

[14] Standing in the Right Place – Belarus [Standing in the Right Place]
Does Matthew Kilford’s name ring a bell? Well he’s playing guitar on this track – a pretty amazing song if I do say so myself and a good piece of detective work by the Dog.

[15] The Mermaid Parade – Phosphorescent [Here's to Taking It Easy]
Phosphorescent are a new name to me but I do like a bit of indie folk/alt country (I think we all do on here). This band are from Athens, Georgia and fronted by a guy called Matthew Houck. Nice tune, nice words, nice nice nice.

New York this morning, it was 8am LA time
And I could be there by this evening
Said the girl on the airline line

So I bought that ticket, and I got in that cab
But I didn’t make it babe to the airport like that

No I wound up walking out by the ocean today
And there were naked women dancing in the Mermaid Parade
And ah Amanda did you see me today
Watchin’ those women dancing in the Mermaid Parade
And ah Amanda did you see me today
Watchin’ those women waltz by in the Mermaid Parade

Now our hearts were on fire only two weeks ago
And our bodies were like live wires down on the beach in Mexico
But I came back to this city and you stayed home in LA
And then our two years of marriage
In two short weeks somehow just slipped away

And I know all about your new man
Your new older, old man and I heard that he’s married
Ah you be careful Amanda
And yeah I found a new friend too
And yeah she’s pretty and small
But god damn it Amanda, oh god damn it all

I went out walkin’ out by the ocean today
And there were naked women dancing
In the Mermaid Parade
And ah Amanda did you see me today
Watchin’ those women dancing in the Mermaid Parade
And ah Amanda were you with me today
Watchin’ those women waltz by in the Mermaid Parade
And ah Amanda were you with me today
Watchin’ those women waltz by In the Mermaid Parade

[16] Can’t Hear My Eyes – Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti [Before Today]
Great name, have no idea what is means but it sounds so 70’s with some lovely psycho-poppy guitars, dreamy vocals and an organ that Ken would be proud of. BTW – Ariel is the guy’s real name – I blame the parents.

[17] The Departure – Our Broken Garden [Golden Sea]
I reckon I’ve excelled myself with artists and bands that no bugger has heard of before… and here’s another one. Our Broken Garden, is the solo project of Danish artist Anna Bronsted – it’s in the same sort of landscape as Sigor Ros with synths, guitars and dreamy vocals to blissfully soothe your aches and pains.

All these Scandinavian/Icelandic chaps seem to love to tell weird stories and paint lovely images with their tunes – this song was apparently inspired by a dream that Anna had that depicted her soul leaving her body in a state of horizontal lucidity and traveling in a silver goldfish bowl to one of the moons of Saturn where her soul began an inner journey to find peace and tranquility for all humankind – I need to drink what she drinks.

[18] Chop Suey – System of A Down [Toxicity]
Had Chicken Chop Suey the other night from The Golden Bullocks, our local Chinese restaurant. As I put the first delicious forkfull in my gob, this song came on – it was a sign I tell you, a sign. Anyway, the album can get weird (one song mentions sticking tapeworms up your arse) but it does keep the kids amused.

[19] Perfect Disguise – Modest Mouse [The Moon and Antartica]
I clicked on the most played button on iTunes the other day and this was by far the most played with 490 plays. Not by me, but by my young ‘uns – so I thought to myself “I must be missing something here” so one of my New Year’s Resolutions for 2011 is to get to know this band a wee bit better as this track is great.

[20] Song for Jesse – Nick Cave & Warren Ellis [White Lunar]
Almost coming to the end of Vol. 2 of my double end of Year Mix and I’m going to be have type quick as my plane leaves very soon so just enjoy the peace and calm of this wonderful track

[21] Bringing In A Brand New Year – B. B. King [A Christmas Celebration of Hope] & [22] The New Year – Death Cab For Cutie [Transatlanticism]
Two themed songs to end with from B. B. King and Death Cab For Cutie – two great songs, especially Mr. King. Can you imagine how good it would be to see this guy singing this song as midnight on New Year’s Eve.

Anyway, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all. Hope Santa brings you the latest CD from the band your Aunty Ethel thought you liked 30 years ago – if it’s a yes then don’t worry, there’s more great music to come on MFTM.

The Music Mix 17 mixes (130 mb and 146 mb) will be available here to download for the next month (until midnight on 31 January 2011).

One of my bestest virtual friends – Bert has made such an impact to this website with his pure love of music, his wide range of musical tastes and his ability to view our world in such a lovely way…… and I do miss him. He’s currently half way up a Spanish mountain breathing in some wonderful air (I hope) and will soon be back with us in’shallah.

In the meantime here’s some songs from LZ, Spacey, Techy, Cheezy and myself for Bert to let him know that he ain’t far from our thoughts.

[01] The Good, The Bad, The Ugly – Ennio Morricone [Soundtrack]
[02] Tiger Feet – Mud [The Gold Collection]
[03] Desert Nights – Lonnie Liston Smith [Introducing]
[04] Yulunga (Spirit Dance) – Dead Can Dance [Toward the Within]
[05] Cool for Cats – Squeeze [Greatest Hits]
[06] Take a Walk in the Wilderness – The Business [All Fool's Day]
[07] Jammin’ – Bob Marley [Greatest Hits]
[08] Caribbean Moon – Kevin Ayers [The Best of Kevin Ayers]
[09] How Many Miles Must We March – Ben Harper [Welcome to the Cruel World]
[10] Grandma Told Grandpa – Lightnin’ Hopkins [Cadillac Blues]
[11] Here Comes The Breeze – Gomez [Bring It On]
[12] Learning How to Smile – Everclear [Songs from an American Movie Vol. One]
[13] You Sexy Thing – Hot Chocolate [I Love To Party]
[14] Future Proof – Massive Attack [100th Window]
[15] Strength in Numbers – The Music [Strength in Numbers]
[16] Jeff Buckley – Hallelujah [Grace]
[17] Set Me Free – Chris Rea [Auberge]
[18] Kashmir – London Philharmonic Orchestra [Kashmir: The Symphonic Led Zeppelin]
[19] Living on the Open Road – Delaney & Bonnie [To Bonnie From Delaney]
[20] Long May You Run – Neil Young [Decade]

The Songs for Bert mix (121 mb) will be available here to download for the next month (until midnight on 15th December 2010) until Bert’s return.

Cover image by TouTouke

November Music Mix Notes

Death Cab for Cutie – I Will Possess Your Heart
I just can’t resist a thumping good bass line – and this has a thumping good bass line in spades. Plus I love the way the song keeps its sparkle throughout its 8 minutes and 26 seconds – not a dull moment to be had and a great way to start the mix. The album “Narrow Stairs” is worth a look at too, in my opinion it’s their best yet – though my pups disagree.

Everclear – So Much For The Afterglow
Their 2000 album “Songs from an American Movie, Vol. 1: Learning How to… ” is a better album and introduced me to the band but this song just powers along at the speed of diarrhea with a riff to die for. I can’t dance but I can certainly move my butt to this.

Lucinda Williams – Car Wheels On A Gravel Road
This song reminds me so much of a holiday in France in 2001 when me and Mrs. Dog would sing along to this as we drove south – much to the dismay of my pups. But what a great song – you know I love Luci (Blue was included on Augusts mix) and I do love a song that rhymes ‘Eggs ‘n’ Bacon’ with ‘House in Macon’ – just superb.

Athlete – Love Come Rescue
Great album (see review), great band and this is a rather surprising song from them – a slow acoustic song – simple but good.
 
 
 
 
Gomez – Natural Reaction
Such a good band and make it as my ‘Artist of the Month” with 2 songs in my mix. This song has a great chorus – I’d forgotten how much I like a good chorus:
“I get so nervous
Waitin’ for a natural reaction and
I can’t stop thinkin’
You’ve exposed (?)
Leave me a nervous wreck
… a nervous wreck”
And the bridge near the end which almost turns into a Russian folk song? Good stuff.

Grand Drive – Love and the Truth
From their fourth album “The Lights in This Town Are Too Many to Count”, this song takes an age to develop but when it does it really does it in style with the bass and drums simply doing what bass and drums do best kicking it into life making this the Wilson brothers (Danny and Julian) best song.

Gruff Rhys – Candylion
From Gruff’s 2007 solo album, this song just begged me to be included into my mix – and who can resist a song with lyrics like “A penguin and carnation/A lemon and Dalmatian” – he is such a good songwriter.
 
 
 
Gomez – Make No Sound
Second track on the mix from Gomez and the title track from their Mercury winning debut album – great song, great album, great band – what else do you need to know?
 
 
 
 Irma Thomas – In the Middle of it All
Track number 9 and time to slow it down a little and who better to do that than the wonderful Irma Thomas. I’ve always loved a good voice, especially a female soul voice, and they don’t come much better than Irma’s. It has so much character and style that she could sing the yellow pages and have me in tears. This song is from ‘After the Rain’ which has come to mean so much to the people of her home town of New Orleans after hurricane Katrina hit them and as with all good soul and R&B, it takes a heartache to make the song good – this song is special.
 
Anita O’Day – Sweet Georgia Brown
Even I find this a strange choice to be included in my music mix – but you know that I do like different types of music and this is such a classic version of a classic song – perfect for singing in the shower. Here’s an extract from the bio on her website:
 

“Anita O’Day, was the last surviving member of the great jazz singers (whose ranks also include Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, and Sarah Vaughan). Born in Chicago, O’Day gained national attention as the girl singer with drummer Gene Krupa’s orchestra on the hit record “Let Me Off Uptown”. After two tenures with Krupa and one, in-between, with Stan Kenton and his Orchestra, O’Day became a solo star and, along with Fitzgerald and Vaughan, a founding fore-mother of modern jazz vocals.”

I especially love the intro with just drum and voice then the band kicks in and all hell breaks loose “Sweet Georgia Brown”.

Craig Armstrong – ‘Wake Up In New York’ feat. Evan Dando
Atmospheric chill out music at its best – the album ‘As If To Nothing’ has a gorgeous quality to it with collaborations with Bono and The Edge, Mogwai, and David McAlmont but it’s this track that stands out for me and always makes me stop and listen.
 
 
Iggy Pop – Lust for Life
Couldn’t resist Amazon’s description of this song – “The relentless, driving drums and thunderous bass of the opening title track are the magic components that make it the best song Iggy Pop ever recorded without the Stooges” – says it all really. Another one for the shower!
 
 
Guru – Loungin’
Another bass line from Heaven but this time it’s a wee bit jazzy and soulful. I bought both the album that this song is from (Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1) and Vol. 2 when I didn’t really know what I was buying – I just loved the music. My Dad is a big jazz fan, and even he loves this song with the trumpet and reference to the old jazz greats – “loungin’ loungin’ – mellow out we’re loungin.”
 
Four Tet – She Moves Me
From the 2003 album ‘Rounds’ this is a fine example of electronic music (sic I hate that term) that treats the listener on to a wonderful acoustic guitar melody that makes the drum loop and synth come to life.
 
 
 
Dire Straits – Down to the Waterline
The guitar is a wonderful instrument and the sound of Mark Knopfler’s guitar on their 1978 debut demonstrates how it really should sound. Pure genius, pure British rock/blues at its best – this is their best album (though Communiqué is close) – forget their later albums, this cannot be beaten and is a true reflection of Knopfler’s talent – a great song.

So… we’re on track 16 – how’s it been so far? Me, I’m having a ball, next song please!
 
 
Feeder – Just the Way I’m Feeling
There are better songs on the album “Summer’s Gone” and the title track “Comfort in Sound” to name but two but it’s this song, I feel truly highlights how they were feeling at this time with the sad death of drummer Jon Lee, in January 2002 – the chorus says it all…

and i feel it’s going down
10 feet below the ground
i’m waiting for your healing hands
1 touch can bring me round
i feel we’re going down
10 feet below the ground
it’s just the way i’m feeling
yeh yeh it’s just the way im feeling

 
Dada – All I Am
When I lived in the UK, I would spend many enjoyable hours searching the CD dump-bins of my local Woolworths and W. H. Smiths looking for albums for 2 quid (sometimes less) that I would like. I often bought just because I recognized the producer or simply liked the artwork on the cover. Very often these purchases ended up in the bin – sometimes they ended up at the front of CD collection. This is one example – I can’t even remember where or when I bought it – and I’m not going to spoil your fun by doing a google search for information on the band ‘cos I know nothing about them either – just love the song.
 
The Golden Animals – Steady Roller
From their 2008 debut album “Free Your Mind and Win a Pony” that apparently they recorded somewhere in the Californian desert in temperatures in excess of 120 degrees! The album is OK, not great – this song is by far the highlight although ‘Queen Mary’ and ‘I Want You To Come’ are pleasant enough.
 
 
Cary Brothers – Ride
Love the muted guitar on this song and the dreamy vocals – plus it blends so well with the previous song by the Golden Animals. This is from the only EP of theirs I own, ‘Waiting for Your Letter’. Think I’m going to have buy some more of their stuff.
 
 
 
Eddi Reader – Jamie Come Try Me
Fabulous voice, fabulous song – the album gets a bit repetitive at the end but this song is a worthy addition to my mix and brings a lovely Celtic feel to proceedings.
 
 
 
Genesis – Undertow
From their ninth studio album ‘And Then There Were Three’ released in 1978 this must be one of my favourite Genesis tracks. I haven‘t got the original album on vinyl anymore (this is from their Platinum Collection) but I can remember being overawed by the sheer quality of the whole album. Great song to end my Music Mix for November – hope you enjoy.

Don’t forget – if you like a song on the Mix, let me know, I’d love your feedback.

The Music Mix 04 [a 122 mb zip file] will be available for one month from today – until 30 November 2009.

Please support the artists – if you like a track, buy the album!

Music for the Month ~ Music Mix 04 ~ November 2009