Southsea Tunes: October in music.
This week, I want to talk to you about some awesome songs I’ve been listening to lately. I have made a mix on Mixcloud and you’d all be welcome to go and listen to it – I’ll post a link at the end.
First track is called Carry Home and it’s by the man with the sexiest voice in rock: Mark Lanegan. For years I was quite anti his music and then suddenly, it clicked (a bit like it did with olives and now, I’m obsessed with olives). The song is about coming home after some time away and since Lanegan’s voice sounds like he’s traveled and seen a lot, it’s really only enhanced by him and the acoustic guitar accompaniment also helps to create a ‘by the campfire’ feel to it too.
Next up is I Know What I Am by Band of Skulls. I haven’t listened to much by this band but heard this playing at the end of an episode of BBC Three’s The Fades a few weeks ago and it immediately caught my attention with its catchy drum beat and lyrics. It’s one of those songs whose lyrics you immediately know after one listen. Reminiscent of The Yeah Yeah Yeahs crossed with The Datsuns largely due to the combination of both male and female vocalists. I like. I like a lot!
Hugo’s cover of Jay-Z’s 99 Problems is nothing short of inspired as it transforms the vaguely aggressive machismo of the original into a catchy, upbeat, indie/alt-country tune. In this edition, the word ‘bitch’ no longer seems to imply a long-standing association between misogyny and rap music, but rather it’s almost tongue in cheek here as a white boy takes on a black music classic. It works though, don’t get me wrong – it’s like an entirely different song but I love it and it’s definitely my song of the month.
The next song is one which I first heard a while back and thought I liked but wasn’t sure but it has steadily grown on me since the summer: Beirut’s Santa Fe. I think that, quite possibly, this song could vanish amongst all of its indie contemporaries and indeed, it doesn’t seem to have made much of a dent in the alternative music world BUT it is well worth a listen. I like the brass section which comes in and it puts me in mind of The Rumble Strips if they just took it down a few notches. It is a chilled out but very well composed song.
Tighten Up by The Black Keys is a song that has been on my radar for a while and I am determined to get more to grips with this band as a whole. However, I love this and it does seem like one of their most popular tracks too. It has an awesome, catchy chorus guitar riff and the video is super cute too. I just wish I was cool enough to get away with calling people “baby child”.
Finally, I want to talk about This is a Trick by Chino Moreno’s side project, Crosses or ‘†††’ as they’re sometimes known. If you haven’t done already, go and download the free mini EP from their website as it is absolutely brilliant. Come the end of the year, I’ll do a column about my favourite albums of the year and this will feature in the top three, easily. The song is an interesting mix of Moreno’s unmistakable vocals and a semi-electronic rock track. Its lyrics are clever and it really is reminiscent of the whole EP. Go and listen to it now!
If you want to listen to the mix, you can do so here.
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