Saturday 30 April 2011

Good Morning (7 Days, 7 Songs Series)


Hi There

On Every Sunday, I'll Publish (Hoping I'll make it happen for a while...), A set of 7 songs, each for a day, All songs will be connected to each other by one issue which they give it different perspective. So Here It Goes, This week issue is Morning (last Week, The Mixtape was about Home)

Sunday: The Velvet Underground - Sunday Morning

When Lou Reed sings "Sunday morning, praise the dawning, It's just a restless feeling by my side" on Sunday Morning (Youtube, Lyrics) from their fabulous album Velvet Underground & Nico (1967), I cannot believe that it was written about 40 years ago and still relevant these days.

Monday: Rialto - Monday Morning 5.19

Haven't heard about Rialto for a while. Since their hit Monday morning 5.19 (YoutubeLyrics) from the debut album Rialto (1998), they fail to repeat this achivement and broke up a few years later, leaving this song behind them, and what a beautiful one it is...


Tuesday: Hope Sandoval & The Warm Inventions - Butterfly Mornings


Butterfly mornings (YoutubeLyrics) is one of my favourites of Hope Sandoaval & The Warm Inventions' second album Through the Devil Softly (2009) which continues the silent ballads of their debut album Bavarian Fruit Bread (2001). 


Wednesday: Nick Drake - From The Morning

Nick Drake is an under-rated Folk singer-songwrtier which died tragicaly while he was 26 years old. From the morning (YoutubeLyrics) is a ray of light from his sad short life, that lighten his album Pink Moon (1972). The last song from his last album, so optimistic but so sad...

Thursday: Ingrid Michaelson - Morning Lullabies


Ingrid Michaelson is a Jewisn American-Born singer from New York, Which many of her songs appears on TV show such as Grey's Anatomy. Here, I chose her Morning Lullabies (YoutubeLyrics) from her Debut Album, Slow the Rain (2005). Simple and Melodious, prefectly fits for a beautiful morning.

Friday: Collective Soul - Good Morning After All


Collective Soul bringing some Rock tunes to all the previous silent morning songs. Good Morning After All (YoutubeLyrics) is taken from their seventh studio album Afterwords (2007) and gives me a kick while I'm refusing to wake up early. 

Saturday: Jewel - Morning Song

Jewel, The Amercian Country-Folk singer-Songwrtier brings us a Morning Song (YoutubeLyrics) from her wonderful debut album Pieces of You (1995). Not as famous as "Foolish Games" from the same album but not bad at all for a bright saturday morning

Enjoy This mixtape, Have a nice week...

Tuesday 26 April 2011

Album Review: TV on the Radio - Nine Types Of Light (2011)

Nine Types of Light

It's so Tragic that Gerard Smith died from cancer just a few days after releasing TV on the Radio's new album, Nine Types Of Light. Unfortunately, It is the weaker album they made so far and Smith's Tragedy won't be on the band's side...

The openning track, Second Song (Youtube, Lyrics), sounds like a combination between Gnrals Barkly and the Bee Gees, but it's not leaving any strong impression on the listenner. The Follower, Keep Your Heart (Youtube), is more communicative and melodic. You (Youtube, Lyrics), is a bitter-sweet ballad that sounds very convincing when Adepimpe says: "You, Gave no reason for letting go, I just thought you might like to know, You're the only one I ever loved"that's what makes it  one of the best tracks on this album While No Future Shock could stay as a B-Side....

Killer Crane (Youtube, Lyrics) is one of the most silent songs on this album, a lullaby alike while Will Do (YoutubeLyrics) starts with a Japanese melody but it's not rising to a great hights like the earlier albums. Seems like they took a direction towards main stream... New Cannonball blues is a total waste of time, you can skip quickly to the next track. Repetition (Youtube, Lyrics) got a great drum & bass rythem but without leaving any unforgettable impression. On the other hand, Forgotten (Youtube, Lyrics) is better than the other songs on this album and I wish they'll make more tracks like that. When they sing about "Beverly Hills, burning of plastic", that's the kind of critic I'd like to hear more...
Caffeinated Consciousness (Youtube, Lyrics) seems like a song of Red Hot Chili Peppers and Oooopsss, this is the end of the album. 

From my point of view, TV on the Radio are losing their momentum as an outstanding experimental-indie band and slowly becoming a common one. It wouldn't surprise me if that would be their last record, but deep inside I hope that they'll create another sleep hunting song like "Wolf like me" (Youtube, Lyrics)

The song you should purchase the album for: "You" (YoutubeLyrics)

The Judge Decision: Not the cup of tea for a wolf like me 

Ranking (5/10)


Monday 25 April 2011

New Born: Fresh Sounds - April 2011



Hi There

A little breeze came through my window this morning, I believe it was a sign for what I may write today. So today's mixtape will include 5 new songs I've heard lately, Hoping it will catch your ear too...

I start with the collaboration of Nick Cave and Unkle which I wrote about earlier this week. Money and run (Youtube, Lyrics) from the new EP by James Lavelle. Together they deliever a kicking rock song with dominant guitars and a choir at the background, a great tune!

Confetti (Youtube, Lyrics) By Cold Cave from Cherish The Light Years (Bonus Track Edition) (2011) gives us a taste of how the 80's would have sound if we played those songs today. Wesley Eisold trying to get us back to the Confetti years and doing it perfectly. 

The Pains of being pure at heart sing about belonging at their openning track Belong (Youtube, Lyrics) from thier latest Belong (2011). It reminds me something between Placebo and Suede, try to listen and close your eyes, you might feel the same. I need to free an hour to listen to the whole album, Which got a lot of praises so far.

Home is a fire (Youtube, Lyrics) by Death Cab For Cutie is also the openning track of their next album, Codes And Keys (2011). As an opposite to the song above, it speaks about how our home is "Burning reminder Of where we belong, love". They combine gentle Electronics with Guitars and thoughtful lyrics, the result is beautiful. 

The last track for today's list is Circuital (Youtube, Lyrics) by My Morning Jacket. Taken from their sixth forthcoming studio album Circuital (2011). This Rock band from Kentucky continue to make interesting music, while the opener of this one reminds me something I've heard before (Interpol?)

Have A Great Day

Sunday 24 April 2011

Album Review: Unkle - Only The Lonely EP (2011)

Only the Lonely EP

Unkle's Only the Lonely - EP promises something interesting. Looking on the guest list on this short EP reveals us that we're gonna meet there Nick Cave, Leila Moss of The Duke Spirit, Gavin Clark of Clayhill and Rachel Fannan, The leading singer of Sleepy Sun. Although it contains only 6 tracks (2 of them are different versions of "Money and run"), It got very rich, altough gloomy, sound. Cave's song is the best act in this album but, Gavin Clark's collaboration seems to be not far away behind. The three other tracks are weaker and it seems that James Lavelle could wait a while until he'll have enough materials for a whole album

The song you should purchase the album for: "Money and Run" (Youtube, Lyrics)

The Judge Decision: Take the money and run 

Ranking (5/10)

Saturday 23 April 2011

Feels Like Home (7 Days, 7 Songs Series)



Hi There

It seems to be very ambitious but I'll try it any way. On Every Saturday night, I'll Publish (Hoping I'll make it happen for a while...), A set of 7 songs, each for a day, All songs will be connected to each other by one issue which they give it different perspective. So Here It Goes, This week issue is Home


Sunday: LCD Soundsystem - Home 


On 02/04 this year, LCD Soundsystem made they're last performance on the Madison Square Garden, NYC. After Three Albums, They decided to quit while they're still popular, a very brave step. I Chose to start the week with Home (Youtube, Lyrics) from the last album This Is Happening (2010), A Rhytmic song which makes me wanna dance anytime I hear it.

Monday: PJ Harvey - A Place Like Home

PJ Harvey still Rocks! That was my first thought after I heard her latest Let England Shake (2011).But let's take a giant step to 2000 and her's A Place Like Home (YoutubeLyrics) from Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea (2000). I've got a hard copy of that album on my shelf, It speaks for itself....

Tuesday: Depeche Mode - Home

Depeche Mode are one of my favourits although they gone bad through the years... Their beautiful song Home (YoutubeLyrics) from Ultra (1997) makes me smell the scent of my mother's cooking, far far away back in my hometown... One of Depeche Mode's inspiring songs ever


Wednesday: Aqualung - Take Me Home


Less known than the previous, Aqualung makes great Indie-Folk-Pop songs. From His Second album,  Still Life (2003), I chose Take Me Home (YoutubeLyrics), A Lovely Quite song for the middle of the week


Thursday: Devo - No Place Like Home


The Weekend is getting closer and it's time for sometthing that throws me back to the 80's. No Place Like Home (YoutubeLyrics) from Something For Everybody (Deluxe) (2010), an album which was released after 20 years!! of silence marked their comeback, and what a comeback it was!


Friday: Black Box Recorder - I Ran All The Way Home


Black Box Recorder made Indie Music at the beginning of this Millenium, but they fade away very quickly, leaving behind some beautiful songs with strong French scent like this one,  I Ran All The Way Home (Lyrics) from Passionoia (2003)


Saturday: The Cinematic Orchestra - To Build A Home


It's the last song for this week and it most be a special one. To Build A Home (YoutubeLyrics) from Ma Fleur (2007) is one of the songs that makes you roll a few tears on your cheek. The velvet voice of Patrick Watson together with the Cinematic Orchestra and the gentle words makes it the best choice for the weekend

Enjoy

Friday 22 April 2011

Merchant's Treasure: Natalie Merchant's Mixtape (Vol. 1)




How I First Heard About Natalie Merchant...


I remember in the mid 90's, A lovely song of 10,000 Maniacs reached my earsThe voice of the young singer, Natalie Merchant, fascinated me with her tender voice. This was the first time I heard the Because The Night, later I found out it was well-known cover version of Patti Smith's song from 1978. In fact, I quite forgotten this song until I listened to her last monumental album Leave Your Sleep (2CD) which made ​​me go back and listen to most of her discographyWhile wandering among those rich albums, I decided to make several mixtapes which demonstrate to a certain extent the high quality of this singer.

From Childhood To Maturity - First Mixtape

This Mixtape begins with a cover version of Neil Young's song 'After The Gold Rush' from an  album with the same name. Other songs from Live in Concert (1999) which appears on this mixtape are 'Seven Years' and 'Gulf Of Araby' which I find more impressive on Live Shows. I also included 'In The Ghetto' which was preformed live  in one of her Chicago's shows. 

Her collaboration with The Chieftains in represented here by 'The Lawlands of Holland', An old Biritish folk song which appears on her Retrospective 1990-2005 (2005). I've also chosen to place 'She Devil' from her concept Album Ophelia (1998) together with three songs of her latest Leave Your Sleep (2CD) (2010): The beautiful 'Spring and Fall: To A Young Child', 'The Land Of Nod' and 'Crying, My Little One'

The mixtape is completed with 2 songs of Motherland (2001): 'Tell Yourself' and 'Motherland'. I tought it would be nice to add something from her 10,000 Maniacs era, So I've put 'These Are Days' inside.

Enjoy This mixtape....

Wednesday 20 April 2011

Suede's Best # 2

London Suede

Hi There 

The Moto of this Blog, As I mentioned before, Is not to criticize (There are a lot of Blogs Doin' it Better...), But only to deliver you playlists to make your day better....
Today's Mixtape is the Second of 4 about London Suede's Music which includes:
Stay Together
Trash
My Dark Star
Everyhing Will Flow and many more, Enjoy!






Ocean and a Rock: An Introduction to Lisa Hannigan


Good Evening

This mixtape is dedicated to the lovely Irish singer, Lisa Hannigan, which made her breaktrough with Damien Rice's debut Album, O (2003) . On this playlist I put together some songs from her Debut Album, Sea Sew (2008), Like the beautifully sung "Ocean And A rock", "Keep it all", "Lille" and others... I Also Included songs with Damien Rice Like "I Remember" and "9 Crimes"  and a Few from The Cake Sale (2007) with Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol. You can also find 4 cover versions here: "Get The party started" (Pink Cover); "Your Ghost" (Micheal Stipe and Kristin Hersh Cover), "Waters Of March" (Carlos Jovim Cover) and the most beautiful one, "Playground Love" (Air Cover).

So Close the lights and lean back, I think you'll enjoy it....

Tuesday 19 April 2011

Suede's Best # 1

Hi There

Today's Mixtape is the First of 4 about London Suede's Music which includes:

We Are The Pigs
The Living Dead
Rent (Pet Shop Boys Cover)
Poor Little Rich Girl
So Young and many more, Enjoy!