I can’t admit to ever being a fan of The Monkees but I used to watch it fairly regularly, nonetheless. Corny and as contrived as f**k, but great fun. I suppose Davy’s accent made it more than just an American show, somehow. And they did have some good tunes (although I’m not sure that had [...]
Archive for February, 2012
Davy Jones RIP
Posted in 1960s, Tributes on February 29, 2012 | 23 Comments »
Spill Challenge Vol 2, Number 8: Backing A Winner
Posted in 'Spill Challenges on February 28, 2012 | 129 Comments »
Usual rules. You know. That really great song where the song is made (or salvaged) by the backing track. It could be a great a) guest vocalist(s) b) backing singers c) backing musicians d) unusual instrumentation Over to you! And a volunteer for next week, please.
Fake Old Vocal Jazz: “Dreams All Faded Away”
Posted in Uncategorized on February 27, 2012 | 4 Comments »
I suspect that this was enormous fun to record, and it’s a shame that the project it was recorded for isn’t going to see the light of day. “Julianne Regan and Jean-Marc Lederman in an old jazz tune (courtesy of public domain jazz band ‘Ambassadors” song) with Noel Coward inspired lyrics. This was done as [...]
Earworms – 27th February
Posted in Earworms on February 27, 2012 | 28 Comments »
The Witches of Elswick – Bring Us a Barrel The ladies go a capella boozing. I love that you can hear their accents, and they certainly sound like they are having fun. This always reminds me – in spirit – of the scenes involving Falstaff and young Hal in the hostelry in Shakespeare’s Henry IV [...]
B-Boys Brainasaurus Book
Posted in Readers Recommend, RR Playlists, Uncategorized on February 26, 2012 | 23 Comments »
So 12 days ago the seeds of the first RR/’spill collaborative book were sown – DaddyPig’s son had written a story inspired by his dream…
Album Of The Whatever: Sandie Shaw’s “Hello Angel”
Posted in Uncategorized on February 26, 2012 | 3 Comments »
I’m much prone to claiming that such-and-such an album was my favourite when I was such-and-such an age, but I think Sandie Shaw’s “Hello Angel” may genuinely have been my favourite album when I was 16. Always a bit too pop-obsessed (and slightly too young) to really love The Smiths at the time, this was [...]
Help Needed !
Posted in Readers Recommend, tagged King Creosote on February 26, 2012 | 13 Comments »
The wonders of the ‘Spill. It started with “Camels Swapped for Wives” in the Festive ‘Spill a couple of years ago. “The Racket They Made” in Earworms and then onto the numerous listings for King Creosote in last year’s Festive picks. I need more but have no idea where to start. Can anyone help? This [...]
Bookworms
Posted in RR Playlists, tagged books on February 25, 2012 | 1 Comment »
Elliott Brood – Write It All Down For You Mountain Goats – Sax Rohmer #1 Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – There She Goes My Beautiful World Senser – Book Of Flies Cursive – Dorothy At Forty Posies – Plastic Paperbacks Magazine – The Book Barry Adamson – 007 (A Fantasy Bond Theme) Robert [...]
It’s a Dog’s Life
Posted in Musing on February 25, 2012 | 10 Comments »
Right. Lake Tahoe, one of the key songs on Kate Bush’s recent 50 Words for Snow album. Starts as a ghost story, warning people not to swim in the lake but only to look; they might see a woman in Victorian clothes, who clearly drowned when she was out looking for her dog Snowflake. Then [...]
Friday Night Fun – A Happy Playlist
Posted in Flamenco, Readers Recommend on February 24, 2012 | 9 Comments »
Apropos of absolutely nothing. A happy play list. All flamenco (or almost) and all songs that are happy, upbeat and just fun. Enjoy. You might even try having a dance. Mrs Maki says it isn’t that hard!
Portlandia
Posted in Uncategorized on February 23, 2012 | 4 Comments »
I know I’m a little behind with this, but I am rather enjoying Portlandia at the moment. Carrie Brownstein is a genius! As well as making my #3 album of last year (Wild Flag), she also found time to write and star in this.
What Would Be On Buddy Holly’s iPod?
Posted in Uncategorized on February 22, 2012 | 67 Comments »
Can you indulge me, Spillers, by taking a detour from our very satisfying literary wanderings in iPod land for a moment? The anniversary of the day the music died was earlier in the month (3rd February), but as Fuel noted on RR today, the music Buddy Holly made had a timeless quality. It would be [...]
Hawaiian Traditional Pop, Reggae and Rap – He Said – She Said
Posted in Pop, Readers Recommend, reggae, Uncategorized, World, tagged 30 Minutes Over Tokyo, Hawaiian guitar, Hawaiian Music, Hawaiian pop, Hawaiian rap, Hawaiian reggae, He said - She said, Jawaiian, Slack Key, ukulele on February 22, 2012 | 5 Comments »
He Says: Yes, it’s Hawaii time ! As you may have gathered I am a bit of a fan, having , in the mid 90s, spent more than is entirely sensible or sane on several trips to these lovely tropical islands. Today, children, we are going to concentrate on the music of this blessed ( [...]
BACK TO NO FUTURE: THE VIOLATORS
Posted in 1980s, Punk on February 22, 2012 | 15 Comments »
Clockwork punks? A “street level Joy Division” ? The Oi! Banshees? A band that tried to stretch the boundaries a bit, the Violators emerged from the Clockwork Orange dystopia of …err… Chapel En Le Frith. Some, such as Garry Bushell, were predicting big things for them, which never happened. They came and went leaving a [...]
Spill Challenge Vol 2 Number 7 – The Most Annoying Lyric Ever ! ! !
Posted in Uncategorized on February 21, 2012 | 299 Comments »
We all love music – that is why we spend so much time on The Spill and RR, but sometimes it can really make you want to scream ! ! ! I want to find out what really makes you scream. The J-Pop Idol group C-ute are maybe for me the most annoying group ever, [...]
Earworms – 20th February
Posted in Earworms on February 20, 2012 | 23 Comments »
T-Bone Burnett – Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend (Monroe cover) They say those who can’t, teach – which in music translates to those who can’t, produce. Not so the ubiquitous T-Bone Burnett, who has shone as a producer, writer and player. Perhaps this unlikely cover will show the scope of his creativity. Tincanman Everly [...]
Last night a Thesaurus saved, redeemed, salvaged, liberated, rescued, freed my life
Posted in Readers Recommend, RR Playlists on February 18, 2012 | 24 Comments »
1 Sleeping In The Postal Service 2 Don’t Leave Me Dying The Manhattan Love Suicides 3 I Spent The Night In The Wax Museum Peter Stampfel & Jeffrey Lewis 4 The Drinks We Drank Last Night Azure Ray 5 When I Grow Up Fever Ray 6 Parents Livingroom Shout Out Louds 7 Digital Love Daft [...]
BACK TO NO FUTURE: ENGLISH DOGS
Posted in 1980s, Punk on February 17, 2012 | 6 Comments »
Way back in the 80s when I was a mere teenager just beginning to investigate The Clash’s back catalogue I remember seeing the name English Dogs painted on the back of a punk leather jacket and thinking it was the ideal name for a punk band. I didn’t get to hear them for around ten [...]
Dory Previn 1925-2012
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged obituary on February 17, 2012 | 15 Comments »
Just wanted to make sure people knew… Guardian obituary
Nocturnes
Posted in RR Playlists, tagged Last Night on February 17, 2012 | 4 Comments »
Dub Syndicate – What Happened? Electrafixion – Who’s Been Sleeping In My Head? Butthole Surfers – Who Was In My Room Last Night? [Trent Reznor RMX] Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Thirsty Dog Offspring – The Worst Hangover Ever Serious Drinking – Hangover Mekons – Amnesia Clock DVA – 4 Hours Nina Nastasia [...]
He Said – She Said – Hawaii is going to be late . . . .
Posted in Uncategorized on February 15, 2012 | 5 Comments »
It is all my fault. The last few days I have been really disorganised and totally stressed out and unfocused and I have not prepare the post in time. I think we will publish the Hawaii post at the weekend.
‘Spill Challenge # Better Late Than Never
Posted in Uncategorized on February 15, 2012 | 62 Comments »
Dedicated to Bish & the Insomniacs, Wyngate & the New Parents and anyone else whose eyes are beginning to hurt through lack of sleep (mine’s down to child with lergy, 4 nights and counting) – the most mellow, soothing piece of music you can think of…NOW! Please!
