REMember Every Moment: the rarities playlist

Five years without these guys...

Back we're be belong. At Walter's Bar-B-Que, Athens, Ga. Photo: Laura Levine

Of course, I had to do something at the Blog, so the idea of a R.E.M.'s playlist seemed the easiest option (If I write about the band I would so emotional and most probably, couldn't finish). It will come shortly sure, but I decided to go for a different option as well. Offering you another kind of "best-of", with my favourite "rarities", plus a few Michael Stipe's collaborations (it's amazing how he can transform a pop song into something irresistibly haunting with so little (check his contribution to Patti Smith and Maria Taylor's tunes). Yes, I included the group cover of the silly yet lovely 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight' and the even dumber 'Love Is All Around' because I just love Michael's yodelling and his "paa-parapapa" at the end.

I guess it's just a different way to go back and remember the times spent hunting for that hard-to-find single or that unofficial recording at the record shops of carrer Tallers (I swear there were music shops back then). Or waiting impatiently for the Fan Club Single to arrive each year. Or just getting frustrated in front of the computer for that never-ending shitty download (I'm talking about the pre-Internet and early web days, folks) of that live cover to be completed. So I guess this is not exactly a playlist about music "greatness" (although 'Photograph', 'Happiness' or their version of 'Wall of Death' are personal favourites). It's more an excuse to indulge myself into so many R.E.M. memories, which so frequently tend to be best-music-related memories... As Michael Stipe said, R.E.M. means Remember Every Moment. For so many people, luckily...

And here's the aforementioned 'Happiness', as it's not available on Spotify.

International Women's Day Playlist!

Today is the International Women's Day, and to celebrate this very special & important we have prepared a playlist with 41 songs created/performed by amazing female artists & female-leaded bands (all Blog favourites). Why 41? Because its the number of years the Day has been held (since 1975, when the United Nations proclaimed it). Of course, many many more superb women have been left out of the playlist. But do not worry, we have every day of any given year to celebrate, as everyday is Women's Day. Thanks for your wisdom, your talents and your songs!

The Indie Anthology 45: essential songs

After introducing them at Indienauta on Monday, I already warned you this was going to be a Pale Lights kind of week at the blog. So the next chapter in our Indie Anthology is devoted to another Phil Sutton's project, currently under hiatus (long sigh)...

Song: Young and Dumb
Artist: The Soft City
Year: 2010
Anyone that knows me a little bit is aware that, from time to time, I completely fall for a female's voice. The list is long and, happily, never-ending (I guess I will make a list of my favourite female singers sooner or later on the Blog). I discovered The Soft City in 2011. I remember hearing for the first time Dora Lubin's sweet but at the same time explosive vocals on 'Young and Dumb' and got completely knocked-out. I thought it was a lost song of my beloved Natalie Merchant playing with the 10.000 Maniacs! Then I discovered there was a band with a great past on their shoulders (with members of Comet Gain, The Ladybug Transistor and Crystal Stilts) and that the whole album (this post is also a reminder I need to grab a copy of this) is enchanting. You get the 80's Maniacs eerie vibe with British jangle-pop, a bit of The Go-Betweens, Velocette, etc. Bouncy pop melodies with extremely infectious choruses and that celestial voice... Ms. Lubin, please come back singing!

The Indie Anthology 36: essential songs

The Indie Anthology makes another mandatory stop to pay tribute to one of my all-time favourite artists, Natalie Merchant, who has just announced her comeback with a forthcoming album of new tunes. Her voice, lyrics, her talents as composer, performer, her attitude & commitment, her role as an activist... Oh, this is going to get emotional.

Song: Poison in the Well
Artist: 10.000 Maniacs
Year: 1989

Do you have a band/artist that can bring you to your knees? Make you cry each time you hear them? Break your heart in pieces? I do. R.E.M. have several songs that can be emotionally devastating for me, but the most infallible one will always be 10.000 Maniacs/Natalie Merchant. With the Maniacs, her most exciting period imo, the jangling guitars mixed with the power of her voice, and what she sang about, her records have always been very special for me. Yeah, she moved on and became a more mainstream artist in the 90s, although I don't think she ever compromised a single bit of her integrity and talents, before she shifted her career again, towards traditional music (I won't waste my time arguing, "Motherland" is a precious album). I owe you so many discoveries, readings, thoughts, even trips. A millions thanks Natalie, for being such an inspiration. So happy to have you back. You are the most welcomed.
.

Happy Birthday Boss (with covers)!

No, I'm not getting mad, Bruce Springsteen wouldn't normally be included on this blog (a lot of respect but not really my taste). But as the Boss turns 64 today, I thought it was a good opportunity to pay him a little homage remembering a few covers of his songs done by some of my favourite artists. Happy B-Day Boss!

Camera Obscura- Tougher than the Rest


Basia Bulat- Glory Days


The National- Mansion on the Hill


10.000 Maniacs- Because the Night


Arcade Fire- Born in the U.S.A.

Discoverer 26: new indie findings

New bands for you!

Of Monsters and Men. Iceland finest! They began in 2010, when Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir turned her solo project into a quartet band, winning last year’s edition of Músiktilraunir, Iceland “battle of the bands” competition (praise judges & audience for their good taste). Encouraged by their triumph, they added two more members to the line-up, creating a bigger, expansive folk-pop sound. The contagious, rich and vital sound you'll enjoy in their debut album "My Head Is An Animal", released this September. Ómissandi! (indispensable).
Of Monsters And Men - 'Little Talks'


The Blanche Hudson Weekend. Change of style. Hailing from Leeds, UK, featuring Darren and Caroline from the ashes of the Manhattan Love Suicides, they started in 2009 as a one-record idea with several guests helping on recording. But after a 7" single and first live shows, two more singles and a compilation, "Reverence, Severance and Spite", followed in 2010. And this October they released what's considered their debut album, "You Always Loved Violence". Glorious noisy twee-pop, recalling Talulah Gosh or The Primitives. Addictive!
The Blanche Hudson Weekend - The Bitterest Clash
The Blanche Hudson Weekend - Let Me Go
The Blanche Hudson Weekend - Noise and Fury

The Soft City. After reading the review of their self-titled 2010 debut record, on the great blog 360º de Separación, I had to check if what they say was true. The Soft City are a super-indie group created by Phil Sutton (Comet Gain, Kicker) in 2007. After an EP, Sutton was joined by Jason Corace (A Boy Named Thor), Kyle Forester (Ladybug Transistor, Crystal Stilts), and Dora Lubin's amazing voice, indeed like a young Natalie Merchant. Imagine early Maniacs, Go Betweens, Belle & Sebastian, girl and jangle greatest groups (I know, a dream come true). They have a new EP, "Four Stories", out now, so more gems to hear!

Tribute to R.E.M. (I): a playlist of their best songs

I already told you, R.E.M. posts were just a matter of time. So here you have the first one: a playlist with their 31 best songs (as many as years their unbeatable career has had), in my opinion, of course. The order is chronological, without any intention of ranking them (something that will come soon). Hope you enjoy. Music doesn't get better than this.

1. Gardening at Night
2. Sitting Still 
3. Shaking Through
4. Maps and Legends
5. Driver 8
6. These Days
7. Fall On Me
8. Cuyahoga
9. Welcome to the Occupation
10. Disturbance At the Heron House
11. You Are the Everything
12. Texarkana
13. Country Feedback
14. Everybody Hurts
15. Man On the Moon
16. Nightswimming
17. Find the River
18. Photograph with Natalie Merchant
19. What's the Frequency, Kenneth?
20. Strange Currencies
21. Ebow the Letter
22. Electrolite
23. Walk Unafraid
24. The Great Beyond
25. Imitation of Life
26. Bad Day
27. Leaving New York
28. Carnival of Sorts (Boxcars) Live at the Olympia version
29. Überlin
30. Oh My Heart
31. It Happened Today

The 25 greatest artists of the last 25 years: 25 to 11

For its 25th Anniversary, Qmagazine proposes a challenging and attractive poll. To vote for the 25 greatest artists of the last 25 years (Q was born in 1986), but with only 3 chances of adding different names than the listed on the web, I decided to make my own. So, this is my top 25. Many are personal favourites, but included a few that, despite not being really my cup of tea, deserve a recognition due to their influence, legacy or career. I also discarded the vast majority of bands with less than a decade of activity.

25. Massive Attack. The first entry of the list, and in a close fight with Portishead and Depeche Mode, was reserved to an electronic music act, an style that, despite not being interested in, has been essential to understand music in these 25 years. So I chose them, because of "Blue Lines", "Teardrop", the elegance, the innovation and the value of a career focused on create something, and not just commercial success.

24. The Smiths/Morrissey. I can't stand Bigmouth, and with very few exceptions, his solo career leaves me quite indifferent, but The Smiths were amazing and their influence is immense. The fathers of indie?

23. Coldplay. Before everything turned ridiculously huge, and sorry to say, empty, Chris Martin and co. they had great albums and an extraordinary ability to connect with their audience.

22. The Beautiful South. A personal soft spot I couldn't help but include on the list. From 1989 to 2001, but specially during the Jacqui Abbot period, they were pop genius, combining great lyrics (Paul Heaton deserves recognition among the greatest) with unforgettable melodies.

21. Sufjan Stevens. A fair good share of the rebirth of folk (indie-folk) we have witnessed lately rests on Sufjan's shoulders. A true artist, in the whole sense of the word.

20. Elbow. The underdogs that finally succeed. Underrated during many years, their flawless career is among the most solid, relevant and exciting of the last decade.

19. The Walkmen. "Just" a bit more than a decade active, but what a decade! "Bows and Arrows", "You and Me" and "Lisbon" are the trio of aces of an extraordinary career so far. Among the greatest bands of the last decade.

18. Eels. Mr. E's career is one of a kind. The freak that become "beautiful" has shown many different and exciting sides during all this years, but always sounding as himself. Besides, his memories "Things the Grandchildren Should Know" are among the best "music books" ever written.

17. The White Stripes. Voice, drums, guitars. Red, black and white. An unlikely shock to the system that became a music scene of their own. And Jack White remains one of the most intriguing music personalities of contemporary music.

16. Teenage Fanclub. "Bandwagonesque", "Thirteen", "Grand Prix" and tens of other indie gems deserve a better recognition of the fabulous but underrated band, whose real influence has yet to be measured. Scottish finest.

15. Nick Cave. Twelve albums with the Bad Seeds (starting to count from 1986 onwards) and two more with Grinderman, to build an undisputable, universal reputation. As passionate, bloody and doomed as rock can be.

14. The Cure. Probably lost their magic long ago, but from 1987 to 1992 ("Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me", "Disintegration" and "Wish") they were outstanding, and their legacy is immortal.

13. Natalie Merchant. "In My Tribe", "Our Time in Eden" and "MTV Unplugged" while she was with 10.000 Maniacs, "Tigerlilly", "Ophelia", "Motherland" solo, her words, and her incorruptible attitude makes Ms. Merchant one of the most relevant artists, no matter long hiatus and minor activity recently. Always special.

12. Nirvana. Although far from being a fan, the influence, weight and personality of Kurt Cobain obviously deserves a mention on this list. They were a band. Now they are a myth.

11. Radiohead. Another sure-fire, very hard to measure their enormous influence and impact. Not really keen on their latest decade, but "OK Computer" alone grants the band a well deserved place on the list.

Check the rest of the list, the final ten spots, here.