Wednesday, February 28, 2018

It Starts With a Birthstone - Songs For February



And here's a list of songs. Some duplication of favourites from the album list. Some promise of Long Players to come. Altogether a female dominated list which sums up how my listening has gone. The Top 3 particularly are absolutely towering songs.

It Starts With a Birthstone - Albums for February



February has been a bumper month for good to great albums I reckon, after a slow start to 2018. Here is my own personal Top 10 ranking. The ordering changes and will almost inevitably keep changing as I re-assess records. Ezra and Hookworms for example have fallen on the basis of recent playings but may recover in time for  my End of Year list. Honourable mentions for Hovvdy, Insecure Men, Ewan Cruikshanks, Pearl Charles, Red River Dialect and Sunny War.

Thirty Days & Thirty Studio Producers # 16 Paul A. Rothchild



People are strange. Jim was right!

The Heart of Rock and Soul # 319 The Chi-Lites


Song(s) of the Day # 1,501 S.Carey


Wisconsin singer - songwriter S.Carey works within a well-established modern musical genre and a very American one. That of the awe of being alive, floating along on the waves of time way of doing things, where Bon Iver, Sufjan and Hiss Golden Messenger probably act as brand managers and market leaders. Carey on his latest album, Hundred Acres, (his third in all), is clearly finding his voice. It's made up of a set of solid and evocative songs, never really astonishing you, but never letting the side down either. For that he gets a couple of Songs of the Day.


Tuesday, February 27, 2018

Things Found on My Local's Jukebox # 276 The Undertones


Wishful thinking on my part in Rosie's last night. In fact England is blanketed in the kind of snow we haven't seen in years.



Songs Heard on the Radio # 244 Hopeton Lewis

 
This sounded like fun!
 
 

Thirty Days & Thirty Studio Producers # 15 Martin Rushent


Best known for his work with the Human League and particularly Dare. But also worked with The Stranglers, Buzzcocks, Altered Images and numerous other Punk and New Wave groups having graduated to the producers chair after several years working as an engineer where he worked on T.Rex's Electric Warrior among other projects.

The Heart of Rock and Soul # 320 The Rolling Stones


1,500 Songs of the Day - 1,500 Days, 1,500 Artists


Another small landmark in the lifetime of It Starts With a Birthstone. Here's the whole list!

1,401 Damaged Bug
1,402 Robert Finley
1,403 Golden Teacher
1,404 Juana Molina
1,405 Saada Bonaire
1,406 Sir Was
1,407 Jefferson Airplane
1,408 Blue Rose Code
1,409 Mattiel
1,410 Country Teasers
1,411 The Weather Station
1,412 Ghostpoet
1,413 Joan Shelley
1,414 Tina Charles
1,415 The Yellow Melodies
1,416 Paramore
1,417 Braniac
1,418 Shady Bug
1,419 Taiwan Housing Project
1,420 Business of Dreams
1,421 Century Palm
1,422 DUDS
1,423 Mr. Husband
1,424 Ifriqyya Electrique
1,425 Last Leaves
1,426 King Leg
1,427 The Keep Left Signs
1,428 Tim Darcy
1,429 Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith
1,430 Alela Diane
1,431 Honey Harper
1,432 The Stroppies
1,433 Glass Vaults
1,434 The Magic Words
1,435 Wireheads
1,436 Parsnip
1,437 Sara Shook & the Disarmers
1,438 Holly Throsbie
1,439 Charlotte Adigery
1,440 Mull Historical Society
1,441 Des Demonas
1,442 Presentable Corpse
1,443 MGMT
1,444 Oscar Brown Jr.
1,445 Blacanova
1,446 Crepes
1,447 Pale Lights
1,448 Saba Lou
1,449 Brona McVittie
1,450 Seazoo
1,451 Robert Lester Folsom
1,452 Chronixx
1,453 The Vertebrats
1,454 Courtney Marie Andrews
1,455 Alien Stadium
1,456 Posse
1,457 Milk Teddy
1,458 Curls
1,459 Arc in Tree
1,460 The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band
1,461 Khruangbin
1,462 A Certain Smile
1,463 The Fiction Aisle
1,464 Belle Adair
1,465 Tune-Yards
1,466 Hugh Masakela
1,467 QTY
1,468 Giants In The Trees
1,469 Terminal Mind
1,470 Cavetown
1,471 Goat Girl
1,472 Dream Wife
1,473 Furniture
1,474 Radio.Dept
1,475 Beechwood
1,476 Pearl Charles
1,477 Sunny War
1,478 Red River District
1,479 Anna Burch
1,480 Phobophobes
1,481 Josephine Foster
1,482 Ezra Furman
1,483 Hovvdy
1,484 Mick Trouble
1,485 The Flying Lizards
1,486 Janis Ian
1,487 Ewan Cruikshanks
1,488 Somali Yacht Club
1,489 Natalia Lafourcade
1,490 L.A.Salami
1,491 U.S.Girls
1,492 The Estimations
1,493 The Orielles
1,494 Jade Imagination
1,495 Flower Travellin' Band
1,496 Anna Von Hausswolf
1,497 Insecure Men
1,498 Frigs
1,499 Olden Yolk
1,500 Renata Zeiguer


1,301 Chastity Belt
1,302 Bill Baird
1,303 Gold Star
1,304 Display Homes
1,305 Dag
1,306 The Chamaeleons
1,307 Linda Perhacs
1,308 Steff Chura
1,309 Black Springs
1,310 Selena Gomez
1,311 The New Year
1,312 The Stevens
1,313 Chris Staples
1,314 Telstar Ponies
1,315 Stacy & Clayton
1,316 Nev Cotte
1,317 Pinact
1,318 Kashena Sampson
1,319 Pere Ubu
1,320 Neon Waltz
1,321 Filthy Friends
1,322 Mary Epworth
1,323 Sink Ya Teeth
1,324 Grant McLennan
1,325 Travis Bretzer
1,326 Les Amazones D'Afrique
1,327 Peter Fij & Terry Bickers
1,328 The Dream Syndicate
1,329 Susanne Sundfor
1,330 Frankie Broyles
1,331 The Levellers
1,332 Tomo Nakyama
1,333 Pixx
1,334 Part Company
1,335 Rostam
1,336 The Lemon Twigs
1,337 Offa Rex
1,338 Colter Wall
1,339 Surfing Magazines
1,340 The Electric Chairs
1,341 Gun Outfit
1,342 The Clientele
1,343 Tricky
1,344 Reuban Bell
1,345 Amadou & Mariam
1,346 Shannon Lay
1,347 Morrissey
1,348 The Bronx
1,349 Luxembourg Signal
1,350 Zara McFarlane
1,351 Florist
1,352 The Mob
1,353 El Goodo
1,354 Holiday Ghosts
1,355 Chain & the Gang
1,356 Husky Loops
1,357 Howl & the Hum
1,358 Strawberry Runners
1,359 Mudcrutch
1,360 Jack Cooper
1,361 Benjamin Clementine
1,362 Amy O
1,363 OCS
1,364 Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich
1,365 O Levels
1,366 Barr Brothers
1,367 A.Savage
1,368 The Pack A.D.
1,369 Cut Worms
1,370 Barry Andrews
1,371 Catholic Action
1,372 Mick Head & the Elastic Band
1,373 Klark Kent
1,374 Drahla
1,375 Matt Wilson
1,376 Kelley Stolz
1,377 Rosa Maria
1,378 Gilroy Mere
1,379 Twain
1,380 Jorma Kaukonen
1,381 Henry Jamison
1,382 Shopping
1,383 CTMF
1,384 Treeboy & Arc
1,385 The Fire
1,386 Lomond Campbell
1,387 Michelle Phillips
1,388 Phoebe Bridgers
1,389 Rips
1,390 Barry Adamson
1,391 Bloody Knees
1,392 Chelsea
1,393 Xmal Deutschland
1,394 The Mighty Wah!
1,395 The Pin Group
1,396 Exploded View
1,397 The Flying Stars of Brooklyn, NY
1,398 Tall Juan
1,399 Jen Cloher
1,400 Lowtide


1,201 The Royalettes
1,202 Velly Joonas
1,203 Tash Sultana
1,204 Perfume Genius
1,205 The Electric Pop Group 
1,206 Dean Martin
1,207 Hazel English
1,208 Blue House
1,209 Kenny Lynch
1,210 Albert Hammond 
1,211 Tangerines
1,212 Emmy the Great
1,213 Salvodor Sobral
1,214 Ria & the Revellons
1,215 Steady Holiday
1,216 Will Stratton
1,217 Terry
1,218 Mountain Goats
1,219 Gerry Rafferty
1,220 Nick Drake
1,221 Snapped Ankles
1,222 Pussy Cat
1,223 The Goats 
1,224 Green Seagull
1,225 Superchunk
1,226 Land of Talk
1,227 Patrice Rushent
1,228 Jay Som
1,229 H. Hawkline
1,230 Strand of Oaks
1,231 Saint Etienne
1,232 Otoboke Beaver
1,233 Mercenarias
1,234 Liquid Liquid
1,235 Sweet Baboo
1,236 Michael Nau
1,237 Entrance
1,238 Pylon
1,239 Amor
1,240 Heliocentrics
1,241 Sundays & Cybelle
1,242 Tom Tom Club
1,243 Sneaks
1,244 Bonny Doon
1,245 Strange Lot
1,246 Enderby's Room
1,247 Clem Snide
1,248 Frankie Rose
1,249 Alex G
1,250 Mother Evergreen
1,251 Bedouine 
1,252 Richard Dawson
1,253 Sutherland Brothers
1,254 Joan Miquel Oliver
1,255 Smog
1,256 Owl & Mouse
1,257 Cornelius
1,258 Gold Connections
1,259 Lab Coast
1,260 Blow Up
1,261 Trevor Sensor
1,262 James Elkington
1,263 Ibibio Sound System
1,264 Walrus
1,265 Rat Columns
1,266 Broken Social Scene
1,267 Wesley Fuller
1,268 Autoclave
1,269 Mac DeMarco
1,270 St. Vincent
1,271 French Vanilla
1,272 Walter Etc.
1,273 Laure Briard
1,274 Zebra Hunt
1,275 Jale La Botz
1,276 Jack Ladder
1,277 Palm
1,278 Ratboys
1,279 Cende
1,280 Domiciles 
1,281 Wolf Parade
1,282 Adult Mom
1,283 Tyler the Creator
1,284 Peter Perrett
1,285 Olympic Swimmers
1,286 The Strokes
1,287 Amon Duul II
1,288 Manchester Orchestra
1,289 The Moondoggies
1,290 The Amps
1,291 Sinkane
1,292 Hollow Hand
1,293 Metz
1,294 Gold Ray
1,295 Childhood
1,296 Alvvays 
1,297 Bread & Butter
1,298 La Feline
1,299 '68
1,300 Honey Has 


1,101 Goldfrapp
1,102 Lift to Experience
1,103 Tim Cohen
1,104 Sweat Tea
1,105 Mickie & Sylvia
1,106 Veronica Falls
1,107 The Four Tops
1,108 The Frightnrs
1,109 Rose Elinor Dougall
1,110 Graham Nash
1,111 Proper Ornaments
1,112 Kitchens of Distinction
1,113 Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever
1,114 Leopold & his Fiction
1,115 California Snow Story
1,116 Jess Williamson
1,117 West Princes
1,118 Shame
1,119 Surfer Blood
1,120 Protomartyr
1,121 The Flesh Panthers
1,122 John Mathis
1,123 Kyle Craft
1,124 John E. Vistic
1,125 Robert & Johnny
1,126 The Righteous Brothers
1,127 Dutch Uncles
1,128 The Proclaimers
1,129 Tinariwen  
1,130 Frederick Knight 
1,131 Frontier Ruckus
1,132 Alex Turner
1,133 The Skids
1,134 Jesca Hoop
1,135 Arbor Labor Union
1,136 Blitz
1,137 Luna
1,138 Har Mar Star
1,139 The Courtneys
1,140 Bob Weir
1,141 Rhiannon Giddens
1,142 Molly Birch
1,143 NE-HI
1,144 Nadia Reid
1,145 Laura Marling
1,146 Madonna
1,147 Eddy Current Suppression Ring
1,148 Hurrah for the Riff Raff
1,149 Kitty Wells
1,150 Davy Graham
1,151 The Pretenders
1,152 The Halo Benders
1,153 Freddi Henchi & the Soulsetters
1,154 Pulled Apart by Horses
1,155 Curse of Lono
1,156 Spiral Stairs
1,157 Fleet Foxes
1,158 Ron Gallo
1,159 Valerie June
1,160 Philip Lewin
1,161 The Moonlandingz
1,162 Mount Eerie
1,163 Samantha Crain
1,164 Rodney Graham
1,165 The Bhundu Boys 
1,166 The Swimming Tapes 
1,167 Ronnie Spector 
1,168 Suburban Reptiles
1,169 Dewey Terry
1,170 Clint Eastwood
1,171 Aimee Mann
1,172 The Searchers
1,173 Mahotella Queens
1,174 Blake Babies
1,175 Barbara Mason
1,176 Cold Beat
1,177 Big Moon
1,178 Charly Bliss
1,179 Born Ruffians
1,180 Third Booth
1,181 Karen Elson
1,182 Stockard Channing
1,183 Teddy Prendergrass
1,184 Jed Loy Nichols
1,185 Wild Pink
1,186 Happyness
1,187 Terry Durham
1,188 Wilko Johnson
1,189 Robyn Hitchcock
1,190 The Jam
1,191 Article 58
1,192 The Housemartins
1,193 Mac & Katy Kissoon
1,194 The Waterboys
1,195 Chad Romero
1,196 Generation X 
1,197 Low Chimes
1,198 Feist
1,199 Eloise Laws
1,200 The New Pornographers

1,001  Marching Church
1,002 Dave Dudley
1,003  PragVec
1,004  Higher Authorities
1,005  Cabbage
1,006 Kikagu Moyo
1,007  Agnes Obel
1,008  Xylouris White
1,009  Geneva
1,010  Prefab Sprout
1,011 - Miracle Sweepstakes
1,012 Phyllis Dixon
1,013  Lambchop
1,014  Les Big Byrd
1,015  Kim Yung Mi
1,016  Alan Price
1,017  Claude Nougaro
1,018  Helado Negro
1,019  Little Green Cars
1,020  Sacred Paws
1,021 Petite Meller
1,022  Grass Widow
1,023  Nelcy Sedibe
1,024  Gold Class
1,025  Hope Sandoval & the Warm Inventions
1,026  Mutual Benefits
1,027  Silver Apples
1,028  Chicken Shack
1,029  Tom Robinson Band
1,030  Sufjan Stevens
1,031  Five Man Electrical Band
1,032  Nino Ferrer
1,033  She Devils
1,034 John Moreland
1,035 StarBenders
1,036   Hinds
1,037 Hurling Piss
1,038  Joanna Newsom
1,039  Witch
1,040  Frightened Rabbit
1,041  Writing on the Wall
1,042  Go Sailor
1,043  Taraf de Haidouks
1,044  Del Byzanteens
1,045  Quintessence
1,046  Juaneco y Su Combo
1,047 Marmalade
1,048 Catavento
1,049  Night Manager
1,050  The Four Vagabonds
1,051  P.P. Arnold
1,052 Holly McVae
1,053  Human Switchboard
1,054 Johnny Fritz
1,055  Marlon Williams
1,056  Antena
1,057  Paul Simon
1,058  Hoops
1,059  Blind Willie Johnson
1,060  Marvin Gardens
1,061  Buffy Saint Marie
1,062  The Nuns
1,063  Nap Eyes
1,064  James & Bobby Purify
1,065  John D. Loudermilk
1,066  Doug Tuttle
1,067  Bent Shapes
1,068  Peter Doherty
1,069  Street Chant
1,070  Oh Pep!
1,071  Johnny Ray
1,072  Wham!
1,073  The New Lines
1,074  Billy Paul
1,075  Los Dug Dugs
1,076  Froth
1,077  Debbie Reynolds
1,078  The Real Numbers
1,079  Faine Jade
1,080  Deerful
1,081  39 Clocks
1,082  Washboard Sam
1,083  Marcos Valle
1,084  The Vapors
1,085  The Rings
1,086  Dama Scout
1,087  Burl Ives
1,088 Lucy Dacus
1,089  The Alessi Brothers
1,090 Martin Stephenson & the Daintees
1,091 Carsick Cars
1,092 The Flaming Lips
1,093 The Molochs
1,094  The Trashcan Sinatras
1,095 Savoy Motel
1,096 Adam Torres
1,097 Wells Fargo
1,098 - Vladimir Vysotsky
1,099 Chunky
1,100 Khadja Bonet

901. Boy Hairdressers
902. Cats on Fire
903. Stephen Steinbrink
904. Foster Sylvers
905. White Horses
906. Everpresent Fullness
907. Kittu
908. Carlton & the Shoes
909. Holy Wave
910 Scream + Dance
911. Altered Images
912. Le Orme
913. Declan McKenna
914. The Main Ingredient
915. Archers of Loaf
916. Sea Pinks
917. Georgette
918. Culture
919. Lotte Lenya
920. The Icicle Works
921. Charles Howl
922. Crocodiles
923. Ringo Starr
924. Super Eagles
925. Wayne Smith
926. The Rationals
927. Sic Alps
928. Tommy Jay
929. Arthur Conley
930. Creme Soda
931. Parsley Sound
932. Esperanza Spalding
933. Thee Midnighters
934. Kris Kristofferson
935. The Mekons
936. Crayon Fields
937. Soviet
938. Pat Powdrill
939. The Prophet Hens
940. Jeremy Jay
941. Lilys
942. Band of Horses
943. Beach Slang
944. Pixies
945. Hello Strangers
946. Cloud Control
947. Susan Christie
948. Skeeter Davis
949. Lee Ranaldo
950. Dinosaur
951. The Nightingales
952. Big Eyes
953. The Cannanes
954. Lisa Miller
955. Mina
956. Pavo Pavo
957. Forth Wanderers
958. Funk Factory
959. Mel Robbins
960. Charles Trenet
961. The Mirrors
962. Eerie Wanda
963. The Van T's
964. Honduras
965. Marianne Faithfull
966. The Clocks
967. Golden Daze
968. Jeff Simmons
969. Kandace Springs
970. Juniper Moon
971. Sylvan Esso
972. Eggs
973. La Femme
974. Nubiyan Twist
975. Pablo Moses
976. Charles Aznavour
977. Lawence Arabia
978. Space Lady
979. Wayne Newton
980. Dave Berry
981. The Lambrettas
982. Miniature Tigers
983. Josephine Ohm & the Liberation
984. Omni
985. Syd Arthur
986. Eddie Kendricks
987. Caribou
988. Ebo Taylor
989. Wilco
990. Kate Rusby
991. Plastic Mermaids
992. Big Thief
993. Warehouse
994. Cool Ghouls
995. Blue Cheer
996. Kate Tempest
997. Chemtrails
998. The Marvelettes
999. Dory Previn
1,000. Cannibal & the Headhunters


801. Vivien Goldman
802. The Goon Sax
803. Spinning Coin
804. The Last Shadow Puppets
805. The Twinkeysz
806. The Fugs
807. The Doobey Brothers
808. Ulrika Spacek
809. The Verlaines
810. Junior Byles
811. Regina Spektor
812. Jim Dickinson
813. Joyce Green
814. Chug
815. Arthur Russell
816. 49th Parallel
817. Marnie Stern
818. Micheleangelo
819. Amber Arcades
820. Kay Starr
821. And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead...
822. Kevin Morby
823. Richmond Fontaine
824. Prince
825. Margo Cole
826. Stud Price
827. John Stewart
828. All Saints
829. Jessi Colter
830. Candy McKenzie
831. Stealing Sheep
832. Mueran Humanos
833. Elyse Weinberg
834. Mayfly
835. The Peanut Butter Conspiracy
836. Kip Tyler
837. Go!Zilla
838. JC Flowers
839. Little Ann
840. Ned Doheny
841. Richard Thompson
842. Al Stewart
843. DIIV
844. David McComb
845. Melody's Echo Chamber
846. Spoon
847. Rokia Traore
848. The Felice Brothers
849. Lera Lynn
850. Maysa Materazzo
851. Stockholm Monsters
852. Crystal Stilts
853. Swell Maps
854. Priscilla Paris
855. Husky
856. Black Tambourine
857. Telegram
858. Lisa O'Neill
859. The Woodentops
860. Blossom Dearie
861. Bobby Parker
862. Terry Allen
863. 60 Ft Dolls
864. The Courteneers
865. Scott 4
866. Shintaro Sakamoto
867. The Gentle Good
868. Jack
869. Angelic Milk
870. The Hykkers
871. Jackie Opel
872. Jealous of the Birds
873. Speed, Glue & Shinki
874. Bird Nest Roys
875. The Outcasts
876. Sam Dees
877. Tony Perkins
878. Twin River
879. Timi Yuro
880. Kid Congo & the Monkey Birds
881. Fantastic Negrito
882. John Foxx
883. Nancy Pants
884. Lion
885. Beagles
886. The Gotobeds
887. Flavor Crystals
888. Brodka
889. The Myrrors
890. Xenia Rubinos
891. Steven James Adams
892. Eleanor Bodel
893. Allo Darlin'
894. Stephen Kirk
895. The Cherry Boys
896. The Motels
897. Dolly Mixture
898. Sly & the Family Stone
899. Honey Cone
900. Jennifer Castle


701. The Turtles
702. Annette
703. The Bridewell Taxis
704. The Fortunes
705. Gwenno
706. Roy Loney & the Phantom Movers
707.Quicksilver Messenger Service
708. Day Ravies
709. Boogarins
710. The Human League
711. Petite League
712. Camille Doughty
713. Naive Set
714. Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes
715. The Showmen
716. Garland Jeffreys
717. Sandy Denny & The Strawbs
718. The Notwist
719. The Guess Who
720. Four Tet
721. Traffic Sound
722. Floraline
723. Komeda
724. Emmit Rhodes
725. Sun City Girls
726. Eric Matthews
727. Tinkerbell's Fairydust
728. The Yardbirds
729. The Seeds
730. The Four Seasons
731. Laura Nyro
732. Black
733. The Blue Aeroplanes
734. Sam The Sham & The Pharoahs
735. Car Seat Headrest
736. Lhase De Sela
737. McCarthy
738. Bonnie Dobson
739.The Romancers
740. Ultimate Spinach
741. Drinking Flowers
742. Norman Greenbaum
743. The Morning Reign
744. Crabby Appleton
745. Louie & the Lovers
746. Daevid Allen
747. Iggy Pop
748. Dana Gillespie
749. Jane Birkin
750. Iron Virgin
751. Jarvis Cocker
752. Hawkwind
753. Vinegar Joe
754. Sister Sledge
755. The Soft Machine
756. Lindsay Duncan
757. Delroy Wilson
758. The Bee Gees
759. Tom Rush
760. Som Imaginario
761. Mother Tucker's Yellow Duck
762. Hilton Valentine
763. Unloved
764. Danse Society
765. Blo
766. Massive Attack
767. The Tropics
768. Hoagy Carmichael
769. The Sneetches
770. Raul Seixas
771. The Monkees
772. Joe Tex
773. Van Morrison
774. Wire
775. Hazel O'Connor
776. Moping Swans
777. Night Beats
778. Jackie DeShannon
779. Al Bowlly
780. Queen Ithica
781. The Hold Steady
782. The Hanging Stars
783. Kane Strang
784. Easter Monkeys
785. Purson
786. The Eyes
787. The Student Teachers
788. J.D. Souther
789. Dionne Warwick
790. Casper & the Cookies
791. P.J. Harvey
792. The I Don't Cares
793. Constantines
794. Red Krayola
795. The Wake
796. Adorable
797. A.R.E. Weapons
798. Lord Melody
799. Algebra Suicide
800. Emma Pollock



601. The Lijadu Sisters
602. Dot Wiggin Band
603. The Redskins
604. Kenny Rodgers & The First Edition
605. Menace Beach
606. Magic Castles
607. David Wiffen
608. Air Waves
609. Sturgill Simpson
610. PiL
611. Primitive Parts
612. Gene Chandler
613. Cola Jet Set
614. Daddy Long Legs
615. The Dukes of Stratosphear
616. Warm Jets
617. Rozi Plain
618. The Savage Rose
619. Biff Rose
620. China Crisis
621. Mountain Goats
622. The Poppy Factory
623. The Sundowners
624. Bill Ryder-Jones
625. Sibylle Baier
626. Little Joy
627. Vashti Bunyan
628. Lightships
629. Jane Weaver
630. Evie Sands
631. Atlas Sound
632. Mercury Rev
633. Meilyr Jones
634. Moose
635. Holly Golightly
636. Chastity Belt
637. Mariah
638. Martin Courtney
639. Beach House
640. Pink Floyd
641. Lizzy Mercier Descloux
642. The Method Actors
643. The Districts
644. Love, Peace & Happiness
645. Parachute Men
646. The Jades
647. Hidden Ritual
648. Boomgates
649. Anthony Newley
650. Roisin Murphy
651. Chubby Checker
652. Johnny Rivers
653. Martina Topley-Bird
654. Israel Nash
655. Mountain
656. Steel Pulse
657. Elton John
658. The Blue Nile
659. Freda & the Firedogs
660. Let's Away
661. Aaron Neville
662. Joan Armatrading
663. M.Ward
664. Graham Parker & The Rumour
665. Blue Ash
666. Cheatahs
667. Angel Olsen
668. The Legendary Shack Shakers
669. Asobi Seksu
670. Beach Fossils
671. Wand
672. Margo Guryan
673. Camera Obscura
674. Quilt
675. Yung
676. Cold Pumas
677. Throwing Muses
678. Younghusband
679. Tanita Tikaram
680. P.J. Proby
681. Donald Fagen
682. Anna McGarrigle
683. Andy Shauf
684. The Manhattan Love Suicides
685. The Eagles
686. Total Control
687. Screamin' Witch Doctors
688. April March
689. Widowspeak
690. Jim O'Rourke
691. Bentley Road
692. Look Blue Go Purple
693. Stutter Steps
694. Lonelady
695. Bridget St. John
696. Ivy
697. Rikki Ililonga & Musi-O-Tunya
698. David Blue
699. Gene Vincent
700. Grin


501. Emmylou Harris
502. Joni Mitchell
503. Leon Bridges
504. Leila & the Snakes
505. Ike & Tina Turner
506. Jo Mama
507. Deep Purple
508. Milk & Biscuits
509. Young Rascals
510. Moody Blues
511. Sons of Hippies
512. Bread
513. Port Sulphur
514. Brinsley Schwartz
515. World Of Twist
516.J. Geils Band
517. Judy Henske
518. Jeffrey Lewis
519. The Tokens
520. Rage Against The Machine
521. Donna Summer
522. Manic Street Preachers
523. The Cambodian Space Project
524. Robb Storme & The Whispers
525. Suede
526. Lynsey De Paul
527. Girlpool
528. The Replacements
529. Super Furry Animals
530. The Mystery Trend
531.The Vibrators
532. Clothilde
533. Johnny Clarke
534. Patrik Fitzgerald
535. John Hartford
536. Brett Smiley
537. Melanie
538. Grapefruit
539. Blancmange
540. Duran Duran
541. Shocking Blue
542. Tall Firs
543. America
544. Heart
545. The Soft Boys
546. John Prine
547. Nick Lowe
548. Ann Peebles
549. Steve Forbert
550. Danny Kaye
551. Dr. Feelgood
552. Johnny Kidd & The Pirates
553. Adriano Celentano
554. Foghat
555.Tears For Fears
556. Maggie Gyllenhaal
557. Liverpool
558. Colin Blunstone
559. Radiohead
560. England's Glory
561. Cilla Black
562. The Youngbloods
563. Rachel Sermanni
564. Marie Queenie Lyons
565. Lead Belly
566. The Kossoy Sisters
567.Delaney & Bonnie
568. Syd Barrett
569. The Steve Miller Band
570. The Loft
571. Groupe Folklorique Montagnais
572. Novella
573. Faith Healer
574. Roseanne Cash
575. Camper Van Beethoven
576. The Pointer Sisters
577. Labi Siffre
578. Donald Byrd
579. The Holy Mackerel
580. Mumps
581. Miracle Legion
582. Stealers Wheel
583. The Pale Fountains
584. Roger Miller
585. The Black Tambourines
586. Mary Hopkin
587. Voodoo Queens
588. Heaven 17
589. The Higsons
590. Dwight Twilley Band
591. Suzanne Vega
592. Gary Valentine
593. The Swan Silvertones
594. Archie Roach
595. Tav Falco's Panther Burns
596. Compulsive Gamblers
597. Weyes Blood
598. The Beau Brummels
599. Wilhelmenia Wiggins Fernandez
600. Wilson Pickett


401. Summer Canibals
402. Songhoy Blues
403. Meatbodies
404. Moon Duo
405.Houndstooth
406. The Bronzettes
407. Husker Du
408. Cat's Eyes
409. Oh Ok
410. Surf City
411. William Onyeabor
412.David Kilgour & the Heavy Eights
413. X
414. The Undertones
415. The Skints
416. The Carpenters
417. Digable Planets
418. Lester Bangs
419. The Band
420. The Rutles
421. The Butthole Surfers
422 Sleigh Bells
423. Stereolab
424. Tobias Jesso Jr.
425. Sauna Youth
426. UB40
427. The Sacred Mushroom
428. Aerosmith
429. Hollie Cook
430. Gilberto Gil
431. Ellis Island Sound
432. Parker Milsapp
433. Come On
434.Kendrick Lamarr
435. Gary US Bonds
436. Arcade Fire
437. The Chanters
438. Steve Gunn
439. Houndmouth
440. The Parrots
441. Soko
442. The Jon Spencer Blues
443. Silver Jews
444. Los Yorks
445. The Mighty Lemondrops
446. Blur
447. Sonic Youth
448. Ultravox
449. Bop English
450 Wimpy Milkshake
451. The Field Mice
452. Swervedriver
453. Yazoo
454. The Sleaford Mods
455. Daniel Dare
456. Lana Del Ray
457.Carmel
458. Cat Stevens
459. Asha Bhosle
460. Eels
461.Hildegarde Knef
462. Papernut Cambridge
463.The Ladybug Transmittor
464. Sharon Van Etten
465. The Baptist Generals
466. BRONCHO
467. Arborist
468.Ron Sexsmith
469. The Doors
470. Weather Station
471.Stella
472. Mbongwana Star
473. Nadine Shah
474. Pins
475. Les Troubadours Du Roi Badouin
476. Elvis Presley
477. Sly & the Family Stone
478. The MC5
479. Jackson C. Frank
480. Gal Costa
481. Bill Fay
482. Las Kellies
483. ESG
484. Smokey Robinson & the Miracles
485. Johnny Thunders
486. Moe Tucker
487. Joachim Witt
488. Canned Heat
489. Buck Owen
490. Sudden Death of the Stars
491. The Milk Carton Kids
492. Sissy Spacek
493. Susan Sondfor
494. The Knack
495. Dyke & the Blazers
496. Associates
497. Earth Wind & Fire
498. Irma Thomas 
499. Joannie Sommers
500 The Beatles



301. Grandaddy
302. Eleanor Friedberger
303. The Delgados
304. Villalog
305. My Morning Jacket
306. Miaow
307. Vampire Weekend
308. The Shop Assistants
309. Francoiz Breut
310. Alice Coltrane
311. Blonde Redhead
312. The Shirelles
313. Cass McCombs
314. Creedence Clearwater Revival
315. John Grant
316. Bobbie Gentry
317. Geno Washington & the Ram Jam Band
318. The Unthanks
319. Slim Cessna's Auto Club
320. Jessica Pratt
321. The Faces
322. Sallie Ford & the Sound Outside
323. Warpaint
324. Dandy Livingston
325. Ex Hex
326. Ought
327. The Delines
328. Kings of Leon
329. Morton Valance
330. The Twilight Sad
331. Michael Head & the Strands
332. The Czars
333. Sun Kill Moon
334. Woods
335. fIREHOSE
336. Tricky
337. Adrian Crowley
338. Caravan
339. The Vacant Lots
340. Tommy James & the Shandells
341. Charlie Brown
342. Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
343. Eurythmics
344. Judy Collins
345. Fraser A. Gorman
346. The B52s
347. Courtney Barnett
348. Benjamin Brooker
349. The Cartoons
350. Joanna Gruesome
351. The Embarrassment
352. Uncle Tupelo
353. Sleater Kinney
354. Tess Parks
355. The Brian Jonestown Massacre
356. Panda Bear
357. Sons of Bill
358. Gold-Bears
359. Curtis Harding
360. Simply Saucer
361. Liam Hayes
362. Cowboys International
363. Natalie Prass
364. Thin Lizzy
365. The Rails
366. Aldous Harding
367. Belle & Sebastian
368. Waxahatchee
369.Django Django
370. Half Japanese
371. Can
372. Julie Driscoll
373. The Supremes
374. The Stems
375..Unknown Mortal Coil
376. Robert Wyatt
377. The Oh Sees
378. Ryley Walker
379. Twerps
380. Alasdair Roberts
381. Dick Diver
382. D'Angelo & the Vanguard
383. Sammi Smith
384. The Jaynettes
385. Viet Cong
386. Duke Garwood
387. Peter Tosh
388. Darren Haywood
389. Blank Realm
390. Richard Dawson
391. Death & Vanilla
392.Heidi Berry
393. Speedy Ortiz
394. Momus
395. Gregory Isaacs
396. Prince Fatty
397. Jesus & Mary Chain
398. Shack
399. Toro Y Moi
400. Lefty Frizzell


201. Jan & Dan
202. Santigold
203. The Boomtown Rats
204. Tim Rose
205. Toots & the Maytals
206. Bobby Darin
207. Billy Swan
208. Marcia Griffiths
209. King Creosote
210. Led Zeppelin
211. Hortense Ellis & Prince Weedy
212. SBTRKT
213. The Pogues
214. Twin Peaks
215. The June Brides
216. The Nips
217. Kate Bush
218. Midlake
219. The History of Apple Pie
220. Dr Alimintado
221. Dr. Savannah's Original Savannah Band
222. White Reaper
223. Orange Juice
224. The Bangles
225. The Allah-Lahs
226. The Exciters
227. Ty Segall
228. Agincourt
229. Baxter Dury
230. The Tyde
231. The Pretty Things
232. The Pastels
233. The New York Dolls
234. Life Without Buildings
235. Felt
236. Sugar
237. Bo Diddley
238. Music Go Music
239. The Troggs
240 Mark Mulcahey
241. U2
242. Hiss Golden Messenger
243. Nilsson
244. Spacemen 3
245. Buffalo Springfield
246. Immigrant Union
247. The Fall
248. Phil Phillips
249. Scritti Politi
250. Slapp Happy
251. Phosphorescent
252. ATV
253. Caitlin Rose
254. Opal
255. Frank Sinatra
256. Lena Horne
257. Hookworms
258. Urge Overkill
259. Jeff Buckley
260. Sergio Mendes & Brasil 66
261. The Sundays
262. The Monochrome Set
263. Joan As Policewoman
264 Bradford
265. The Growlers
266. Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan
267. The Who
268. Marcelo Carmelo
269. The Wipers
270. Eric Burdon & The Animals
271. Mission Of Burma
272. Thurston Moore
273. The John Steel Singers
274. Pixies
275. Brigitte Fontaine
276. Tindersticks
277.McGough & McGear
278. Le Roux
279. Yo La Tengo
280. Smoke Fairies
281. ABBA
282. Steely Dan
283. Jimmy Cliff
284. The Beta Band
285. John Lennon
286. Young Fathers
287. Lou Reed
288. Beth Orton
289. Julian Cope
290. Tuff Love
291. John Denver
292. Leonard Cohen
293. The Beach Boys
294. Jim Noir
295. James
296.. My Bloody Valentine
297. Barrington Levy
298. Spectres
299, Fun Boy 3
300. The Saints

101.The Charlatans
102. Magazine
103. Lush
104. The Stoney Poneys
105. The Allman Brothers
106. John Cale
107. Toni Harper
108. Tammi Lynn
109. Althea & Donna
110. Bobby Womack
111. Japan
112. The Strangeloves
113. David Bowie
114. The Handsome Family
115. Echo & the Bunnymen
116. Grant Lee Buffalo
117. The Jim Carroll Band
118. Waylon Jennings
119. Carl Douglas
120. Otis Redding
121. Peter & the Pirates
122. Strawberry Switchblade
123. Ben Harper
124. Shoes
125. The Capitols
126. Dusty Springfield
127. Fats Domino
128. Buddy Holly & the Crickets
129. Josef K
130. The Feelies
131. The Heptones
132. Minnie Ripperton
133. The Go Betweens
134. France Galle
135. Loretta Lynn
136. Half Pint
137. Death in Vegas
138. Sun House
139. The Liminanas
140.  The Organ
141. Gladys Knight & the Pips
142. Viv Albertine
143. The Ikettes
144. The Ronettes
145. The Fresh & Onlys
146. TV On The Radio
147. Grizzly Bear
148. The Jimi Hendrix Experience
149. 23 Skidoo
150. Nicodemus
151. Serge Gainsbourg
152. The Moles
153. Devo
154. The Go! Team
155. Kim Wilde
156. Brian Eno
157. The Langley Schools Music Project
158. The Cure
159. George Jones
160. The Gun Club
161. David Hemmings
162. Sugar Chile Robinson
163. John Phillips
164. October Country
165. Lloyd Cole & the Commotions
166. Francois & the Atlas Mountains
167. Dexys Midnight Runners
168. Andy Williams
169. Kraftwerk
170. Jackie Mittoo
171. Martha
172. The Chills
173. Richard Barrett
174. Mazes
175. Strawberry Alarm Clock
176. Bruce Springsteen
177. J.D.McPherson
178. Elliott Smith
179. Liz Phair
180. East Brunswick All Girls Choir
181. Future Islands
182. Split Enz
183. The Walking Who
184. Townes Van Zandt
185. Bill Callahan
186. The Mantles
187. Sam & Dave
188. Aztec Camera
189. Jimmy Scott
190. Reigning Sound
191. Sparks
192. Rosetta Hightower
193. Big Star
194. Crime
195. Johnny Cash
196. Moby Grape
197. Katty Line
198. Sinead O'Connor
199. Ultimate Painting
200. The Kinks

1.Andrew Oldham Orchestra
2. Dion & the Belmonts
3. Big Youth
4. The Left Banke
5. The Undisputed Truth
6. Ted Taylor
7. The Real Kids
8. U-Roy
9. The Regents
10. The Nits
11. The Velvet Underground
12. Jacques Dutronc
13. Aretha Franklin
14. The Lovin' Spoonful
15. The Shins
16. Carl Orff
17. Minutemen
18, Peggy Lee
19. The Chambers Brothers
20. The Thompson Twins
21. R.E.M
22. Louis Armstrong
23. Bugsy Malone Soundtrack
24. Dennis Brown
25. Charlie Rich
26. Roky Erikson
27. Richard Harris
28. Fleetwood Mac
29. Ricky Nelson
30. Linda Lewis
31. The Breeders
32. XTC
33. The Byrds
34. The Isley Brothers
35. The Swinging Blue Jeans
36. Al Green
37. Warren Zevon
38. Cal Tjaeder
39. Tim Hardin
40. The Creation
41. The High
42. Melvin Van Peebles
43. Yamasuki
44. Nina Simone
45. Cowboy Junkies
46. Black Blood
47. Ride
48. Friend & Lover
49. Chicory Tip
50. The Psychedelic Furs
51. Elvis Costello & the Attractions
52. Os Mutantes
53. Nico
54. The Paragons
55. Dmitri Shostakovich
56. The Au Pairs
57. The Sir Douglas Quintet
58. Gregory Porter
59. Pharell Williams
60. Television
61. Miriam Makeba
62.  Billy Fury
63. It's a Beautiful Day
64. Simon & Garfunkul
65. C.W.Stoneking
66. Derek & the Dominos
67. Grace Jones
68. New Order
69. Ivan
70. Darrell Banks
71. Los Saicos
72. Dr. John
73. Dalek I Love You
74. The Mynah Birds
75. Bonny & Sheila
76. The Aristocats
77. The Flamin' Groovies
78. Broadcast
79. The Blue Orchids
80. Desmond Dekker
81. Love
82. The Rolling Stones
83. Guided By Voices
84. Parquet Courts
85. The Screaming Trees
86. Neil Young
87. Cate Le Bon
88. Patti Smith
89. The Black Lips
90. Mighty Hannibal
91. Nyuyorican Soul
92. Vernon Green & the Medallions
93. Cornershop
94. Dorothy Ashby
95. The City
96. The Smiths
97. Subway Sect
98. Deerhunter
99. Black Merda
100. Scott Walker

Song(s) of the Day # 1,500 Renata Zeiguer


It's fair to say that Brooklyn's Renata Zeiguer is an eclectic artist. Her debut album, Old Ghost, just out, readily attests to that. So do the playlists she posts on Spotify. Taking in Tropicalia, classic Jazz singers and Sixties Pop, the common denominator of her tastes, (if there is one), is a sense of lightness and understated daring.


Old Ghost demonstrates these characteristics only too clearly. Although perhaps it might be classified as Indie, it's actually too inventive to be popped easily in that particular box. She's really closer to Carmen Miranda or the soundtrack to sixties soundtracks of Star Trek than Pavement. Anyhow, it's a cracking record.Perhaps the fact that Zeigeur is also the daughter of Argentine and Filipino parents and had childhood classical training where her inspirations were Debussy and Prokofiev are further markers for the eclectic music she creates. Maybe Regina Spektor, who shared her New York upbringing is the best comparison point of all. Old Ghost, is certainly a splendid starting point for Zeiguer and it will be very interesting to see where she chooses to go next!

Monday, February 26, 2018

Kate Bush


Ratboys - GN

So in honour of that great new EP, here's my review of GN from last year again!


Quite definitely one of my favourite albums of this year thus far. Ratboys GN, just out, is one I waited for and one that lived up to all of my anticipation and more. Whether it'll make a splash in the big pop pond is probably doubtful but it's a better record than many that will.



Several of the tracks on here rank among the very best I've heard in recent months. Hailing from Chicago, and labeling their sound as Post-Country, Ratboys are two, vocalist Julia Steiner and multi-instrumentalist Dave Sagan and in GN, (as in Good Night), they've produced an album that is all calm liquid surface and murky bed depths. Much like going asleep and drifting into either dream or nightmare really.



The Post-Country moniker the band choose for themselves doesn't necessarily make a lot of sense to me personally, though it's always best for bands to pigeonhole themselves if they need to be pigeonholed at all. To me they sound Post-Kim Deal if they're anything, the album hints at all the most wonderful quiet moments of that woman's recording career from Pixies to This Mortal Coil to Breeders to Amps. I can also hear something of unjustly pretty much forgotten nineties outfit Madder Rose in the mix.




As for the songs, they hint at coldness and darkness and the band maintain a smart equilibrium between darkness and light, trapped forever between life's undoubted potential for threat and fear and its redeeming beauty and wonder. Occasionally Sagan lets rip, as if there's a need for all this pent up emotion and experience to be purged somehow. But for the most part, Ratboys veer towards the lower-end of the VU-needle volume-wise. As the album cover indicates, they know how to maintain an essential inner calm despite everything that we have already had and still might get thrown at us as part of life's rich pageant.



In terms of the lyrics, Crying About the Planets is typical, retelling the story of Australian explorer Douglas Mawson, (featured on this blog a few days back) and the desolation and loss of his 1912 Arctic Expedition. Find the lyrics here, if you're not moved, Ratboys are not for you. There are at least five others jostling with it in contention as the album's best. GN, a small but perfectly formed gem.