That's so good - that should have been mine: Music that moved me in 2013

At the request of good friend Michelle Matthews, I present a few thoughts as to what music did it for me in 2013.

This year Pop music fought back. I'm not talking that shite that pollutes American radio waves, I am referring to the good stuff. Not bad considering this is a year that Phoenix came up short creatively.

Speaking of coming up short, Kanye decided to toss off some rhymes at the last minute which cheapened a record that went places musically - into NIN territory. Thankfully for all concerned, Trent Reznor returned to remind us all that there is a right way to grow old gracefully. If only Jay-Z had taken notes...

So on to the albums that I listened to (a lot) this year:

Vaudeville Smash - Dancing For The Girl

Funky Australian outfit that has some big cajones and bravado. Don't believe me?




The 1975 - The 1975

They breed them well up in Manchester. Their debut album is full of killer singles. Here is one of them.




St Lucia - When The Night

Anthem for the Summer (and the following one as well). I assume Peter Cetera's lawyers are filing papers as we speak.




City and Colour  - The Hurry And The Harm

Four albums in and not a dud amongst them. Continuing to explore new sonic territories, Dallas Green now serves only one master - himself.



Jen Cloher - In Blood Memory

Full disclosure: I contributed to her Pozible campaign to complete and release this album. Of course that doesn't guarantee a successful product. Jen's third album is her most complete and her most ambitious. At only 7 tracks, she says what other bands take a double album to do.




The National - Trouble Will Find Me

Sure they are a bunch of miserable bastards, but damn it they give good music and lyrics:

"When I walk into a room
I do not light it up.
Fuck."

Haim - Days Are Gone

Not only is this the best pop album this year, it is the best album this year full stop. Haters can take their Wilson Phillips comparisons and shove it.

You know how to make a Venetian Blind?

This really has nothing to do with The Stooges sadly.

Over the summer break I read the new Springsteen bio by Peter A Carlin. It was a nice (but by no means thrilling) stroll through the history of The Boss and, as such, it prompted me to go back and listen to all his albums in chronological order.

Because I have oodles of time to spare.

The musical journey did allow me to finally appreciate albums that I had previously given short shrift (Tunnel of Love and The Ghost of Tom Joad) whilst confirming my utter dislike of others. It also made me realise that, deep down, the double release turkey of Human Touch and Lucky Town would have made a passable single album if Bruce had only called in an editor.

One of the songs that would make that mythical track list is a bitter sweet tune called 'I Wish I Were Blind'.



It's a classic tale of jealousy as a man pines over a girl who is unfortunately with someone else. In this case sung to the tune of 'Under The Boardwalk' slowed down just a fraction.

But there are others that would also be willing to lose their sight over the same situation.

Australian singer-songwriter Paul Kelly released a great little ditty a few years later called 'I'd Rather Go Blind'.



Paul gets extra credit for referencing both Dr Dre and You Am I as well as hoping that his ex-lover has become a lesbian: "You know I can't compete with that all"

Not to be outdone, Paul nicked the title from the Etta James classic.



It is refreshing to know that women can feel the same way when it comes to this subject.

YOLO APOLLO?

Dear Soul Gods,

What have I done to deserve your scorn and contempt?

Have I not worshipped you appropriately?

Have I not bowed down at the foot of Sam Cooke? Read the Gospel of Marvin? Sung (albeit badly) the Psalms of Pickett?

I once more make my pilgrimage to your Mecca on 125th Street to tour your hallowed theatre only to be once more denied entry.

I know you work in mysterious ways but to reschedule a tour when I only have one chance to see you is just cruel.

So I trudge back to mid-town, head slumped like Charlie Brown and get ready to hop on a plane home, having once more failed to see the inside of the grand Apollo.

Always yours,

Disco Stu

P.S. Harlem is looking swell.

High Culture meets Low Culture

No doubt displaying movie posters from his long and stellar career, such as Bad Boys and...umm...Bad Boys 2.

The rebuild

"Progress is slow but I am in it for the long haul." - Will McAvoy

Exporting shite since 1888

I see that not even New York is immune to crappy publications.

The First Casualty Of War

The bad news is that my shampoo exploded in my suitcase during the flight. The good news is my luggage has taken on a nice sheen and is relatively dandruff free.

Only one solution: Off to the pub.

Music to leave the Island by

Bill was my Deputy Principal for 3 years, my Boss for 8 years and remains to this day a good friend and a musical confidant.

On the eve of my trip overseas we meet for coffee where he thrusts into my hands a bunch of mix CDs he has been curating for a while.

I have no doubt that the majority of the music on these discs (all soul of course) will be new to my ears. Yet I am fairly sure I will find some tunes that will set me off searching for more.

Not that much different to stepping on a plane to explore the other side of the world.

Keen to boost!

So we are a week away from our trip overseas and I have been wondering what the best way to keep everyone up to date.

Last time I left the island I used this place but that was in the early smart phone days so I never had the full force of an app to help post articles. With any luck, the use of the Blogger app will make things very easy.

Let's see how we go.

I'm one of the many pieces fallen on the ground

As a counter punch to my previous post, if the Counting Crows never release another album, I will be happy in the knowledge that this is the final song in their catalogue.

Step out the front door like a ghost...

Start, a photo by jakeandlindsay on Flickr.

Openings are a special thing. A great opening will stick with you forever, especially when the end product is not quite the masterpiece that its beginnings suggest.

Though it lasted just a season, the opening scene from Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip re-affirmed my love for Aaron Sorkin's writing, even if he didn't hit it out of the park every episode. It was as if Sorkin set the bar so high for himself it was impossible to better. Though the Christmas Episode was something special.

The dry wit of Garrison Keillor is not for everyone but he nails the opening line of Pontoon his novel about the fictional town of Lake Wobegon:

"Evelyn was an insomniac so when they say she died in her sleep, you have to question that."

The rest of the book is fine without being brilliant. If anything, the above line proves that Keillor's tales of Lake Wobegon are better heard than read via his radio show A Prairie Home Companion. If you are after something funny and light for 15 minutes a week then I suggest you subscribe to the 'News From Lake Wobegon' podcast.

As far as opening salvos go, my favourite belongs on the first album I ever fell in love with. To the casual observer, August & Everything After will forever be remembered for bringing radio staple 'Mr Jones' to the world. To those of us who stuck with Counting Crows, the opening track 'Round Here' is year zero.

Adam Duritz has often been labelled a mopey, petulant rock star and whilst someone like Morrissey wears it like a badge of honour, Duritz wears it like a millstone. But everyone gets a free pass on their debut and this song about growing up allows Duritz to let it all out emotionally.

Here I present to you a cathartic live version from only a few years ago.

A mix tape for a new year

As part of a get fit regime, I took up running earlier this year. For me to be motivated to run I have to listen to music. Thankfully it doesn't mean I have to listen to David Guetta-ish beats just to keep going - it can be absolutely anything. And because I ran a lot this year, I can attest to the following artists and songs. These songs helped me and inspired me through a period of transition. A change of job and a change of city. 10 songs to keep with me on the journey.


Ryan Adams - Do I Wait (taken from Ashes and Fire)



City & Colour - Little Hell (taken from Little Hell)



The Decemberists - June Hymn (taken from The King Is Dead)



Fitz & The Tantrums - Moneygrabber (taken from Pickin' Up The Pieces)



Noel Gallagher - If I Had A Gun... (taken from High Flying Birds)



Gotye - In Your Light (taken from Making Mirrors)



Mayer Hawthorne - No Strings (taken from How Do You Do?)



Husky - History's Door (taken from Forever So)



Raphael Saadiq - Stone Rollin' (taken from Stone Rollin')



Teddy Thompson - Gotta Have Someone (taken from Bella)

Lenny = White, Carl = Black

I have been listening and thinking a lot about hip-hop of late. Also talking about it. Arjunan is a good friend at work. He is known as Arj only to his friends. Because he is the nicest man on earth, everyone calls him Arj.

An unassuming soul, it was a delight to discover that he was also partial to the art of spoken rhyme. Like myself, Arj wades in the conscious end of the hip-hop pool but also has well articulated views on 90s West Coast rap that belies his character. He is kinda like Charles Grodin in 'Midnight Run' come to think of it.

So as a result we have been swapping discs (remember them?) and chatting further about why we like certain artists and albums. The thing that resonates most of all with hip-hop for me is 'the swagger'. From the time they drop their first single, rap artists are full of confidence which most other genres don't seem to naturally have. The term 'earnest' is virtually unknown in hip-hop circles.

Which inexplicably brings me to Kanye West.

Casual listeners to Yeezy will be forgiven for thinking that Mr West is simply a mouthpiece for boasting and for broadsides at anyone who wins an award he was nominated for. But dig deeper and Kanye is one of the very few of his peers that is willing to bare his soul. This was most evident on his debut album The College Dropout. Sure there was bravado up the wazoo but there were some moments where he dropped his guard a little. Often on the same track.

'All Falls Down' was my entry point to this album and seven years on I still have it on high rotation. The last line in particular spoke to me as a slightly directionless twentysomething:

"We all self conscious I'm just the first to admit it."

As I have mentioned previously, one of the aims of my current writing project is to steer away from the thick slabs of earnestness that weighed down my earlier attempts at fiction. But as Kanye has demonstrated, a little openness on the odd occasion has the ability to keep things grounded.

Write with confidence but with an awareness of what is going on around you.

That's not a bad thing to aim for.

I am a man, a simple man...

One of the aims for this writing project (see: Didn't you used to be Eddie Valiant?)was to avoid where possible any musical references in the story, especially when it came to our protagonist.

Considering the story involves a lot of working stiffs in a law firm (apologies to all working stiffs out there), I am able to drastically limit any opportunity to crowbar in a reference to a song or artist. Mind you I have lined up at least one recurring gag involving Hall & Oates as well as a very obscure nod to David Bryan.

Don't know who he is? Mission accomplished.

The one overt allowance is the classic 1987 album 'Man Of Colours' by legendary Australian outfit Icehouse. Without going into too much detail as to how it makes an appearance (it involves a cassette version of the album) or shape the story (it doesn't) I have instead revisited the album to get a sense as to how it affects our hero (he reluctantly loves it).

And that has been my take on it over the years. You see the Summer of 1987/88 was soundtracked by two albums, the aforementioned 'Man Of Colours' and John Mellencamp's 'The Lonesome Jubilee'. I am fairly sure that these were the only two albums my parents played over the 3 months. This is obviously incorrect as there are other songs from that time that I recall. But what sticks out was the incessant repeating of Man of Fucking Colours and Mellencamp's "every guy" rock.

The image of my parents dancing (over and over again) to 'Cherry Bomb' will be with me fondly forever.

So what has Iva Davies left me with?

It's interesting. Is it the best Aussie release of the 80s? According to the recent Triple J poll, there are 11 other albums from that decade that make an appearance. 'Man Of Colours' doesn't even rate a mention. But I can tell you now that I would play this before busting out 'Whispering Jack' any day of the week.

The reason for this rests with the overall sound of the album which still impresses me. When you consider that there are only a few songs in the set that scream 1987 (mainly resigned to the final few numbers) it is an album I can come back to at any time.

Obviously the copy my parents wore out that Summer didn't wear me out.

Didn't you used to be Eddie Valiant?

I'll admit it has been some time between drinks. To be honest though life has been going great these past couple of hockey seasons that I have had few chances to tap this part of the brain.

However a month or so ago I stumbled across what I thought would be a great idea for a story. Now normally my flights of fictional fancy have been so darn earnest and full of hand wringing that really don't represent me, or at least not a me that has left his twenties behind him.

Instead this kernel comes from a place that has been me all along:
Dark, dry and a little bit (nay a whole lot) silly.

So as I start to construct this loose thread of ideas into something legible, I will aim to use this space to bounce ideas around and to post things that inspire me on this adventure. It will hopefully keep me creatively wired and (most importantly) moving forward.

For now though I offer you a mock-up blurb of the story, like something you would find on the back of a novel. This isn't intended to give you the full picture but to set the tone and give you a glimpse as to where I am coming from and aiming for.

I hope you like it.

Ryan always wanted to be an architect, but sometimes dreams get traded. Instead he is a journalist and not a very successful one. In order to supplement his income, Ryan has taken a role as a lackey at a prestigious law firm, one that is making good coin in such a terrible economic climate.

Ryan’s curiosity (and naïveté) finally gets the better of him and he discovers the firm’s shocking secret to its success. Worse still is the revelation of who is actually behind the cunning scheme.

Suddenly, Ryan is faced with some tough questions:

Does he tell the Uncle who hired him about what is transpiring?

Will he leverage his somewhat questionable membership of The Fourth Estate to write the story of the year?

And perhaps most importantly…

…how does one get blood out of a credenza anyhow?

Radio Gaga Free: My 5 favourite albums for 2010

With apologies to the left-handed motherfucking genius who just missed out, here are the albums that I kept returning to over and over again this year (in no particular order):

Arcade Fire - The Suburbs

16 track albums should not work in this attention deficit world but Arcade Fire are not a band prone to doing things half arsed. Watch this get snubbed at The Grammy Awards.



Broken Bells - Broken Bells

It is only after listening to their self titled debut that you realise that James Mercer and Danger Mouse have created the most natural sounding ego-free collaboration in a long time. Check out 'The High Road'

Fyfe Dangerfield - Fly Yellow Moon

I have already talked a fair bit about Mr Dangerfield's solo project over on The Music Blogs. I just wish more people knew about his great album.



The Gaslight Anthem - American Slang

The shadow of Springsteen looms large over many of the new indie bands these days. The difference between The Gaslight Anthem and the rest of them is that The Gaslight Anthem couldn't give a shit if you think they are cool or not.



Plan B - The Defamation Of Strickland Banks

A rapper who doesn't need guest vocalists for the hooks (and vice-versa), Plan B knocked it out of the park with his sophomore release. And yes, a concept album that actually works from start to finish.

Me: When I'm Not Here...

...or at the place that actually pays me for that matter. Every so often I will write for the good people at The Music Blogs. My latest post is on Ben Drew aka Plan B.

Head there when you get sick of my posts with endless references to Londonbeat. But before you do, check out my favourite new song:



Take care all.

Songs that never get old #4577

A love tune from the perspective of a dying man allows for great lines such as:

"These things I might have said
only wish I could
Now I'm leaking life faster
than I'm leaking blood."

Proof that David Gray wasn't creatively bankrupt after White Ladder.

All I want is something I can write about

Little Kielbasa
Image courtesy of acoustitch

I received a mention on Twitter yesterday from a complete stranger (say hello Daniel) saying what a great blog I had. Kind words indeed but the random kudos did spark a reminder that I have not really updated this space in a while.

Sure, you've all taken delight in my past tales of Fantasy Football and over indulgence in the Robert Palmer songbook but what have I done for you lately? Bubkis that's what!

Truthfully though, my happiness has become my weakness: I am now in a relationship.

Last time I was with someone, I recall that it was difficult to put head to pen to paper. This was in the days before blogging became something non-nerds did so I have nothing by way of example to show for any past lulls in my output.

Perhaps being in a relationship puts things into perspective? Perhaps this wonderful thing I am in means that defending girl groups becomes somehow irrelevant? Perhaps the trivial things don't mean as much now?

I don't think that's necessarily the case (though sticking up for Girls Aloud shall be put down to sleep deprivation on a Trans-Atlantic flight). My current belief (and I hope to be proven wrong) is that the energy and excitement I used to express myself when I was single is now directed towards my relationship leaving me without a desire to write.

What I do hope is that my relationship inspires me to write about new and interesting topics with renewed vigour. Perhaps all I need is a little time for those effects to rub off.

So to my small band of followers, I apologise if I'm not around here as often.

To the girl who has my heart: I'll see you on Friday for a pizza and a Gig.

Ladies and gentlemen; here in my right hand I have a copy of...

...my ten favourite albums of 2009.

It is funny because this list came fairly quickly to me. There was no internal debating or wrangling on what deserved to be included and what didn't just a clear decision on what stood out in my mind this year. Now this isn't the best albums to have been released, (I will leave that to the hipsters and those that apparently know better), they are simply my favourites.

Presented here (in no real order) are those ten:

Jen Cloher & The Endless Sea- Hidden Hands

A beautiful sophomore release from the Melbourne songstress and her brilliant music collective.

Jamie Cullum - The Pursuit

The pint sized Jazz pianist/vocalist is still putting a new spin on old standards but it's his original songs that make him one of my favourite musicians.

Doves - Kingdom Of Rust

British trio's most complete work yet. In a perfect world, 'Winter Hill' would be a number one smash.

Swell Season - Strict Joy

It is one thing to break up in the public eye. It is another thing entirely to record an album about it when you are in the same band. Glenn Hansard & Marketa Irglova do both and pull it off with dignity (and another great album to boot).

Manic Street Preachers - Journal For Plague Lovers

A leftover scrapbook full of lyrics from the missing Richey Edwards is the source for The Manics most abrasive album since The Holy Bible. Also one of their best.

Pearl Jam - Backspacer

Seattle journeymen finally have a bit of fun. This should have happened years ago.

Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Everything great about Phoenix can be found right here.

Pete Yorn - Back & Forth

After two disjointed albums, New Jersey native Yorn finds the right balance of forlorn ('Don't Wanna Cry') and bittersweet ('Last Summer) tunes.

7 Worlds Collide - The Sun Came Out

This will more than tide me over until the new Crowded House album. Neil Finn and Friends once again check their egos at the door for a good cause, in the process releasing some of the years best music.

Parallel Lions - Holding Patterns

If I had to choose just one album from this list it would probably be this. A new venture from Art Of Fighting's Ollie Browne, Holding Patterns is an embarrassment of riches: Grand sonic landscapes, brilliant drumming and Browne's golden voice. Oh, and the tune 'Separated' - the best five minutes committed to disc this year.