Mixclub Round 2 from Pam

1. Beelz - Stephen Lynch

Oooh, a comedy song to start with - excellent. I'm a sucker for a good comedy song, being a fan of Bill Bailey, Mitch Benn and the like. This is a jaunty little number about a rather camp Satan and reminds me a bit of Corky and the Juice Pigs with their song 'Only Gay Eskimo'. Great fun.

2. Little King - Robbie Fulks

A nice upbeat bit of country/rock next. A good thumping drum beat, some choppy guitars and a bit of attitude in the vocals. I think would probably like more of this one.

3. One Big Love - Patty Griffin

This is a wonderfully expansive song - the chorus in particular really soars with a pulsing guitar riff and Patty Griffin has a fine voice to carry it off. This would be a good song to have on the car stereo when you are going for a day at the seaside.

4. Mushaboom - Feist

This is a nice, catchy number but it bugged me for a while, probably because I've heard it on an advert for something and it's got stuck in my head. I do like the twinkly, sparkly bit at the end with the ethereal voices and the hand claps.

5. Another Sunny Day - Belle and Sebastian

Belle and Sebastian were tremendously popular about ten years ago or so, but I think I managed to avoid listening to any of their stuff. This is a good, jangly bit of indie pop (and another candidate for the day at the seaside playlist) and I was quite surprised to find that it only came out last year. It sounded like a much earlier vintage to me. I did like the line about the referee at the football match ... :-)

6. Everybody Knows this is Nowhere - Dar Williams

This is a charming, folky version of a Neil Young song. Not much to say about it really, but it's grown on me as I've listened to it more.

7. The Space Between - The Dave Matthews Band

A bit of a change of mood here, with a very moody, downbeat track that sounds like the aftermath of a bitter relationship breakdown. I like Dave Matthews voice - it's somewhere between Peter Gabriel and Richard Butler out of the Psychedelic Furs. In fact, this could easily be a Psychedelic Furs track if you just fuzzed the guitars up a bit more. It's good, but definitely not one for the day at the seaside

8. Long Time Coming - The Delays

Ah, a bit more indie pop now. Was this a single? I seem to remember hearing it somewhere before, probably on the radio. A nice sing along chorus and a wistful fade out at the end.

9. Miami - Counting Crows

Another band I have heard the name of but I couldn't recall hearing anything by them. This is fairly restrained rock, and I can't help thinking it would have been better if they'd let rip a little more towards the end of the track.

10. Lateflyers Hill - Eddi Reader

I have to admit I was quite prepared to hate this track. I still haven't forgiven Ms Reader for her crimes against music with the song Perfect (or more accurately Per-er-er-er-fect). However, this is rather lovely, showing that she can actually sing extremely well. This would be one to listen to after you've got to the beach, perhaps laying on the sand somewhere in the dunes looking up at the clouds in the summer sky.

11. Cinnamon Road - Shaun Calvin

A nice moody bit of folk rock, perhaps with a tinge of country. I like the guitars on this, and the vocals are growing on me as well.

12. Fine Line - Hootie and the Blowfish

I've heard the name, but I am struggling to remember any of their songs. This track is perfectly acceptable MOR rock that just sort of washes over you and doesn't really stick, which might explain why I can't think of anything else they've done.

13. It's Only Love - Heather Nova

Oooh, I like this one. She's not got a great voice, but it's certainly expressive and she has the good sense to let the guitars take over and do the talking towards the end of the track. Is that her really name though? What's the deal with singer song writers being named after stellar objects - Susanne Vega and Heather Nova. How long before we hear of Belinda Betelguese or Quentin Quasar?

14. Heartache for Everyone - Indigo Girls

This is a get up and dance bit of ska styled pop. Lovely. This is for the beach party when the sun's going down.

15. The White Hare - Seth Lakeman

A nice bit of neo-folk to finish on. I'm not a huge fan of folk, to be honest, but I could get into it judging by this track. I'm not entirely sure about the lyrical content, but at least there's no folderolls or diddle-eye-days. This is a nice finish to the day, perhaps for driving back from the seaside through moonlit moorlands.

So, all in all, a fine mix. There's nothing on there that makes me reach for the track skip, and a couple of names that I'll be listening out for - Heather Nova and Seth Lakeman in particular. Thanks Pam!