The Indie Anthology 32: essential songs

Another chapter of the Indie Anthology, this time... with a song I immediately link with winter and cold (I wish I could say snowy cold but in Barcelona that's almost impossible) days...

Song: Black Cab
Artist: Jens Lekman
Year: 2003

There are songs so good that become your own soundtrack for a period in of time in your life. That period can be a moment, a day, a week, months... or forever. Tunes with a special vibe infusing a mood that connects with you in a way that goes way beyond the lyrics (not a partygoer to recognise myself on the fabulous opening lines of "Black Cab". No, it has to be the melancholy, the sense of purity (I know this words are risky in music but here's an exception), the shy looks of this gentle Swedish. This tune appeared in my life on winter time, nearly a decade ago, and it keeps doing so, recurrently. It's always welcomed. Another missing link in the hunt for the perfect pop piece that ties Jonathan Richman, Belle and Sebastian, Stephen Merrit, Jeremy Jensen, and many more, "Black Cab" is lush (that flute, the strings) but naturally disarming with its straightforward simplicity, staying with you for the very first time you listen them. As perfect tunes do.

Playlisting: cover suggestions for The Very Most

Our dear friends from The Very Most were asking for song proposals to cover in their facebook on Tuesday. It took me a little while, 'cause I can imagine many tunes Jeremy and Co. could do wonders with, but here's a little playlist with my ideas. The band has already decided for a song from The Feelings (good choice as always) but anyway, is a good excuse for hearing great music!

1. Throw Aggi Off the Bride- Black Tambourine
2. Times Table- The Hi-Life Companion (wouldn't be great a cover between blog favourites?)
3. Suspended From Class- Camera Obscura
4. Me and the Farmer- The Housemartins
5. My Wandering Days Are Over- Belle and Sebastian
6. Catapult- R.E.M. (would die to hear TVM doing an early R.E.M. song, hard to choose one)
7. Ain't That Enough- Teenage Fanclub (or "Sparky's Dream", or "I Need Direction")
8. Black Cab- Jens Lekman
9. Let Mother Nature Be Your Guide- BMX Bandits
10. Sing Me Spanish Techno- The New Pornographers
11. If It's Not You- Language of Flowers
12. Some Kind of Angel- Mojave 3