And so we conclude. With ten songs in impeccable brilliance. No, really. This was worth it, wasn’t it? Yes? Good. Albums next.
October 25, 2009
October 24, 2009
Top 150 Songs of the Decade: 25 – 11
The tease before the top ten. These are all pretty ace though. And sadly keep N-Dubz and Chipmunk from the top 150. Tears.
October 23, 2009
Top 150 Songs of the Decade: 50 – 26
Okay, maybe I am mentally ill.
We’re getting so close to the top now. Who’s excited? Come on, someone must be? Rebecca Ritters? Okay then, go back to your pudding. I’ll carry on though.
October 22, 2009
Top 150 Songs of the Decade: 75 – 51
I'm still not mentally ill. I just like the way this looks now.
Like Bill O’Reilly’s heart, this list just keeps on going, regardless of how many people want it to stop. It won’t. Never. Or until I get to the number one. Whatever comes first. Probably the latter. It makes a lot more sense.
October 21, 2009
Top 150 Songs of the Decade: 100 – 76
I am still not mentally ill. Photoshop isn't working.
And so we carry on counting down the very best song efforts this decade (and indeed millennium) has thrown up so far. Not literally thrown up. That would be horrible. You’d have Brandon Flowers covered in day old carrot and soup. Do we want that? Some of us certainly, but not the moral majority. Oh, they do too. Okay then, vomit away.
ON WE GO! And remember the SPOTIFY PLAYLIST. (more…)
October 20, 2009
Top 150 songs of the decade: 150 – 101
I am not mentally ill. I am just tired.
I’m either early with this, if you’re a sane human being who follows natural chronology, or I’m late if you’re Pitchfork, Pop Tarts Suck Toasted or Pretty Much Amazing, all of whom have perfectly fair and decent orderings of art. Even if R Kelly seems to feature prominently on all of them. This I won’t abide. Thus you won’t find him anywhere near this particular narcissus, nor indeed Missy Elliot who still terrifies my eyes out. Other than that, it’s yet another jolly old round up of the best pop, rock, indie, country, hip-hop, punk and what not about. And yes, I do know McFly are in there.
I should also point out that though I set out with all good intentions of making this a ’singles’ only thing (as in records, rather than just have very lonely artists) I got lost along the way and just made it ’songs’, cos we really don’t think ‘War on War‘ is the best song on Yankee Hotel Foxtrot do we? We don’t? Good. Now on with the first batch. And why not have a wee sentence beside each one, giving my opinion on it? And a link to a video so you can form one too? Magic!
Here’s the Spotify playlist too for such handy conveniences. Tops! (more…)
October 14, 2009
Portugal. The Man – Q & A
Portugal. The Man
Q & A
Portugal. The Man
Portugal. The Man is not the most usual name for a band. But it fits this Alaskan collective of thoughts, dreams and mad, crazy beats more than most. Now based in Portland, the quartet are reveling in an Animal Collective inspired delirium of musical chaos, yet somehow retain a melody in there somewhere, adding pop comforts to more manic accompaniment. They’re touring the world with Hockey too, so they’re cool too. Why has it taken four albums for us to speak to them? Oh well, here goes. (more…)
Mickey Gang – Q & A
Mickey Gang
Q & A
Oh Mickey you're a gang, you're a gang, ba da ba dang. Or something.
Cool, minimalist electronica and songs about menstruating horses – just what’d you’d expect from any bunch of 19-year-olds nowadays. Mickey Gang do it with a flair though, both beguilingly innocent yet with a knowing smile underneath, celebrating the Brazilian need for fun so evident in their upbeat, addictive music. Like CSS, but more fun and less sensual, or Hot Chip but interesting, Mickey Gang are young, hip and soon to take those carnival rhythms global. Here’s what they said to EML. (more…)
Civet – Q & A
Civet
Q & A
So bloody hot
A civet is a “small, lithe-bodied, mostly arboreal mammals native to the tropics of Africa and Asia.” They are also a remarkably kick-ass all female punk-rock group from Los Angeles, sounding like the bastard offspring of Dropkick Murphy’s and Boudicca. But who’s more fun to go out drinking with? Regardless, you’ll get a better live show from the latter – born with an attitude to entertain. Here’s what lead vocalist and guitarist, Liza Graves (she was never going to be the next Britney) had to say to EML. (more…)
October 13, 2009
First Aid Kit – Q & A
First Aid Kit
Q & A
Good taste in jumpers too
Recently touring with indie folk favourites, Fanfarlo, this Swedish duo are known to write the odd acoustic pleasure too. And all the more remarkable considering they’d still be at high school in the UK. For First Aid Kit are sisters Klara, 16, and Johanna, 18 who are touring Europe when the rest of us were worrying about English prelims on Hardy and if the invigilator would check you’d put all your physics equations into your scientific calculator. They never did. If only we’d all learned to play affecting folk-pop instead, with some sweet naivety rare in modern music. Properly lovely. And pleasant to chat to as well. (more…)
