So, due to my own ineptitude in the realm of Wordpress themes and HTML in general, I can’t figure out how to make a “view older entries” link come on this page anywhere…. Props to Alison for alerting me to this fact, but also if anyone wants to help me out – feel free. Anyway, so I’m doing a roundup of some of my favorite and best mp3s that I’ve given away lately WITH some added commentary. All for free.
Also this happens to be my 20th Jamie T post, and due to the fact that I listen to this MF every single day and none of his songs ever get old and I only ever discover new things, different layers, hidden meanings and utter brilliance when I listen to his music… I’m giving away some of his old demos that are really excellent and it’s a shame that they fell by the wayside….
Feels Like Summer – Johnny Foreigner – I can’t listen to JoFo every day because they’re kind of grating in a great way, but this song is so fun. It’s really exuberant and excellent to shout along to or bust your speakers for.
Bow Down & Die – The Almighty Defenders – This song is so wonderful. The first time I ever heard it, I had extreme deja vu so strongly, like I have never felt before, because that is how organic sounding it is. Taking all the strengths and none of the weaknesses of their respective bands, Black Lips, King Khan and The BBQ are the Almighty Defenders. The best way that I can describe this song is the kind of gospel, airy, Southern song that you might sing at about 9:45 in the morning, after having seen a crazy, sweaty, intense gig, partied until 6am, dozed off until 9:42 and then gathered around outside on a day-bed to lay around and avoid a hangover.
Hasabe – Black Lips – This ultra rare Black Lips song’s 10 second beginning had me doubting whether or not this was real, and then the skuzzy riff comes in and then Cole Alexander comes in on his microphone-made-out-of-a-tin-can, recorded-in-an-underground-treehouse vocals and you know it’s signature Black Lips. This song is so good, I can’t believe nothing ever came of it and I’m shocked that it was never widely released. This is a side of Black Lips that I really like, it’s really raw, and the lyrics….meh, it’s Black Lips – sometimes brilliant (on accident) but always relatable (Punk Slime, anyone?) but when Cole shouts “US of A” it really makes me proud to be American, you know?
Jack The Ripper – Black Lips – I don’t need to sell anyone a copy of Screaming Lord Hutch’s Jack the Ripper, but I will. It’s not like the Horrors version which is very polished even if they wern’t at the time. This is live and as scuzzy and dark as Black Lips can be. Basically it’s a marriage made in a garage.
Fox News – Jamie T – This is a different side of Jamie that I really like, and I mean his stripped down song. I honestly think he is a great lyricist, and this song really showcases it… hence: “Well pigs fucking fly, and it ain’t about oil, and Fox News has always been fair and balanced.”
NWA (Not Without Apology) – Jamie T – Not Without Apology aka NWA I think may be one of Jamie T’s least accessible songs. It’s brash and harsh and the mix of the guitar is just a bit too dominant. How can I sell you a song by saying it’s one of his worst songs, well, I don’t know, but it’s actually not his “worst song” it’s just not as polished as the rest of the songs that seem to flow out of Jamie so easily. He makes good use again of the strings – something I wish he would continue on more songs (as he utilizes in On Holiday, below) but the guitar is really off-putting until about 1:44 where the song really comes together. The guitar riff has been stuck in my head for days and I think it’s pretty excellent. This has been the most jingle-jangled typing of words about a song maybe ever, but I think this is fitting. I will put it to you this way, if I heard this song I’d say this MF has a LOT of potential and can’t seem to stop listening to this song.
On Holiday – Jamie T – I know this is embarassing, but originally I didn’t like this song because it doesn’t have the most catchy beginning like most of Jamie T’s songs that grab you immediately (with loud noises, shouting, or wonky keyboards) but this isn’t like most of Jamie’s other songs. Unlike most of Panic Prevention (rather like Brand New Bass Guitar and Back in The Game), this song is really low key, but it’s not acoustic. It’s basically Jamie displaying his mastery of flow, most of the song is him “singing” (aka rapping/speaking/spitting) over violins and it’s incredible. This song is really great to zone out to – and I don’t mean that in a weird way but I always find myself just being grabbed by his timing, and rocked like a baby while I try to figure out just what he is saying. This song is really amazing, though, and it’s just Jamie T making another great song, it’s in his blood.
Do You Have The Time – Jamie T – If you’ve ever heard Amy Winehouse’s ‘Ska EP’ this is in the same “ska” vein. It’s a really fun song. That’s all.
And finally, two new ones:
Cutting Out The Bad – Copy Haho – Lighter than Dananananaykroyd, less twee than Los Campesinos! and less geeky than Bombay Bicycle Club is probably the best way I can describe these guys. Usually I hate likening bands to other bands, especially when all the bands are buddies, but nothing really jumped out at me to say about this track other than I’ve been listening to it on repeat for like a day and I really like it. Copy Haho’s whole EP is excellent and I really recommend checking it out.
Mr. Understanding – Let’s Wrestle – I think this is a cover of Pete and the Pirates. I love it. Let’s Wrestle are something special methinks, but I’m going to hold off on elaborating because I’m planning a big post. Let’s just say that they have that same distant observer vocals going on, and I’m obsessed.
In case you don’t keep up on the Black Lips every move, you know you’ve come to the right blog to hear about it all. So this weekend they played Pitchfork Festival, and none other than Pitchfork interviewed them about some things. For the tl;dr crowd, I have bolded the excellent parts.
