a reply to neil's review

OK, forgive me if this isn't what I'm supposed to do - I'm new at this - but, having read through back posts, it appears that "the person who sent the damn CD in the first place has to apologise in public". So that is what I am doing.

1 Glosli - Sigur Ros

This is a bit of a strange track that builds slowly from an odd start sounding like somebody marching on cardboard boxes accompanied by some strangulated warbling, to something rather magnificent. The vocals are tantalisingly indistinct, remaining just out of reach but I suspect that that is the idea. I suspect this needs to be listened to at maximum volume for best effect, so I did. The music box at the end is lovely too.

This is our get-out-of-bed track. Try it. Put it on the CD alarm and wake up to it. It builds, slowly, and, by the time you have to throw back the sheets and get on with your life, it is invigorating. Sigur Ros is a group that Maria was convinced I would not like (and I was convinced I wouldn't)! However, she was wrong (me too). I like music. I like music that affects me and this affects me! Glad you liked it.

2. Dead - My Chemical Romance

A complete contrast here, bouncy fun rock that skips along in a quite jaunty and charming manner. Not what I was expecting at all, but that's because I was probably expecting it to sound like the Chemical Brothers - doh! Enjoyable in a west coast punk style, and it doesn't outstay its welcome.

Good. It is scary sending out songs that you really like to someone else. This song makes me bounce! It makes me run round the room! This song is pure sugar, pure energy. And, it is quick in-and-out fun! Unless you listen to the lyrics!

3. Matador - Los Fabulosos Cadillacs

Oh my. This is excellent. Football whistles, thumping great drums, latino vocals and everything. I want this on my GTA soundtrack now, so I can drive around Little Havana in Vice City listening to it.

Tee-hee! There is so much Latin American music that I don't get (don't get me started on Mariachi) but this just rocks. There is no other place in the world that this could have come from. Hell, I'm going to slap it on the player now, as I type - which will just mean that the rest of my replies will be tainted by bouncing along to Matador. Maria wants to know if you have read the lyrics? She will send you a translation if you wish :^)

4. Handlebars - Flobots

This is quite a clever rap, but it doesn't really grab me. It sounds a bit too much like the Weird Al Yankovich parody 'White and Nerdy'.

First time I heard it I thought it was Weird Al too! However, once you start to listen to the lyrics it becomes excessively political...really? You thought you'd get away without a little politics thrown in there? I'd expect the same from you - except it might be a little bit more anti-religion rather than anti-global-domination. That said, I found that I keep catching myself, wandering around, singing "I can ride my bike with no handlebars" at the most inappropriate times - sorry to the sixth grade for disturbing their maths exam.

5. Billy Bragg - New England

An absolute classic, and one I have on vinyl up in the attic. "It's wrong to wish on space hardware" is probably one of my all time favourite song lyrics.

Except for the lyric "in the end it took me a dictionary to find out the meaning of unrequited", which is just brilliant, I know where you are coming from. As luvverly as Kirsty MacColl is, this really is the better version!

6. Me Voy - Juilieta Vengas

I love this one, a song that manages to be upbeat and whistful at the same time, and quite lovely with it.

Juilieta Vengas - Si was the first CD that Maria bought for me. This song isn't on the CD but (thanks to MTVMexico) I have heard a lot of her music. I thought that this was the one to send. It is luvverly, isn't it?

7. The Jeep Song - The Dresden Dolls

I saw this pair playing at the Leadmill a while ago and they reminded a bit of a goth version of The White Stripes, but this is not one of their better tracks I think. The drummer chap can't really sing, and when he joins in it all sounds a bit naff. Thumbs down, I'm afraid.

Damn, damn, and triple damn. It is my fault because I (foolishly) didn't think you'd know The Dresden Dolls. And then it turns out that you have seen them live! Damn you neil h. and your street cred! Yes, it isn't their best track, and I know that I should be sending bestest tracks, but it is an accessible track. If you wanted to get someone hooked on The Dresden Dolls what would you send? I thought this was fun, quirky, and interesting enough to spark an interest. Now I discover that the interest was already there - I apologise.

8. 2 +2 = 5 - Radiohead

In theory I should like Radiohead, but for some reason I have never really listened to them. I think that this song has convinced me to remedy that, so I'm going to buy a copy of OK Computer in the near future and sit down and give it a proper hearing.

OK, I cheated (a bit) in my choice of music. I know of your love of Mr. Wild Willy Barrett and his home-made guitar and so I went for a guitar based Radiohead track. If you liked this you might be better off with "Hail to the Thief". Don't get me wrong, Radiohead is wonderful, but this is indicative of that album, not necessarily of "OK Computer". In passing, Creep is my favourite Radiohead track, and (if you like your guitars) Prince did a cover of it at Cochella this year. You might not be able to find any copies of it on the t'internet because TAFKAP can be a bit touchy about the t'internet. However, if you can find a copy, listen to it.

9. Authority Song - Jimmy Eat World

Hmm, this drifted by without me noticing and I had to skip back to listen to it again. A bit too bland, I think.

Fair enough. Again I probably messed up. There are better tracks and, you're right, this is probably bland and predictable. I'm learning. Next person gets "Bleed American".

10. Que Onda Guero - Beck

Another popular band that I have managed to avoid (see Radiohead), this track really appeals to me with the ambient street sounds and the rap lyrics referring to mariachi bands, followed by a Spanish chorus. This is what the Flobots should sound like, I think. Another must for the GTA soundtrack.

The problem with Beck is that he is eclectic. He is all over the place, pulling ideas from wherever he wants (bit like a male Bjork). In most cases it works for me but then there are the times it doesn't. He has a 75% hit rate with each album. 25% of each album I hate, really hate but the other 75% is just pure brilliance. This track is fantastic and has a special significance for me - because I am blond (guero) in Mexico!

11. DJ DJ - Transplants

Ooh, another goody. Very catchy intro and bassline, and a nice boppy beat. Reminds me of the Beastie Boys in some ways, which is a good thing in case you were wondering.

This just makes me laugh. In fact The Transplants make me laugh. They are sooooo angry, so annoyed with the world, and yet they are so ineffectual. And, yeah, I think you are right to compare them with the Beasties.

12. Skin and Bones - Foo Fighters

Yet another example of a popular band that is new to me, and I'm guessing this is an atypical example of their stuff. A very spare intro sets the scene nicely before the drums join in and the occasional burst of guitar, and then what sounds like a harmonica. I wasn't sure about this at first, but it has grown on me with subsequent listens.

Atypical - yes. The Foos (hey, they are out there fighting the forces of Foo so that you and I can sleep safely in our beds) are a shouty band. But I thought that there was going to be way too much shouty music on this CD and decided to give you a respite. This is from an "unplugged" album - less shouting and more musical. Glad that it grew on you.

13. Tear You Apart - She Wants Revenge

Very reminiscent of Iggy Pop, or maybe Psychedelic Furs, with growly vocals over a menacing bass and a nice tight drum beat. Yum.

It is controlled violence. There is something that is deeply sexual about She Wants Revenge, and that comment probably says waaaaay too much about me...and is slightly worrying about the fact that I sent the track to another man :^) Shall we just move on...?

14. New Best Friend - The Lashes

Sounds like a church organ to start with, before the vocals start and everything kicks off in a rather satisfying way. Not outstanding, but good, solid stuff.

Part of the fun of doing this is the chance to throw in odd tracks from bands that I (hope) the listener has never heard of. I know that (some of) the idea is to get people to discover new bands and fall in love with them but (and this is just me) sometimes I'd like to just say: here's a band that you've never heard of, playing a song that you will never hear again, and your day isn't ruined. Damn, it's the teacher in me. Now you can answer a question in a pub quiz and look really knowledgeable without leaving home! My job is done. "Solid", that'll do.

15. Irish Blood, English Heart - Morrisey

I have a bit of problem with Morrisey. Don't get me wrong - I loved the Smiths and still consider them to be one of the defining sounds of the 80s, but Morrisey's subsequent solo career has been a bit of a curate's egg. Parts of it are excellent - 'Suedehead' and more recently 'You have killed me' were very good, but there have been some decidedly average tracks in there as well. I sort of like this, but then again I don't really. Hmmm, that sounds hopelessly indecisive. Sorry.

Again, Morrissey makes me laugh. I know I shouldn't but I do. I (sort of) knew that you would know most of The Smiths' back-catalogue, didn't know that you would know of his solo career. I liked most of the album - You Are The Quarry - and just went for a more accessible track. Be indecisive...I think he is :^)

16. Shadow of the Day - Linkin Park

I initially thought this was Green Day, but a glance at the track list put me straight. It almost veers into a sort of mawkish U2 style ballad at one point, particularly in the guitar break at the end, and I think I prefer them when they are doing more in your face punky sort of stuff.

YES, me too. I love Linkin Park when they are shouting! However (as mentioned in the comment about The Foo Fighters), I was worried about too many shouty songs. This struck me as being not Linkin Park, enough not like them to actually be someone else. And, yes, you have hit the nail on the head. Listen to it one more time, except this time think: U2 - With or Without You.

17. Into Action - Tim Armstrong

A complete contrast now, with a lovely, upbeat, bouncy bit of ska that makes me want to lace up my dms and start jumping around the room. Excellent - two thumbs up!

Ok, time to be honest. I slipped two songs into this compilation by Tim Armstrong. The Transplants is also Tim Armstrong - except as The Transplants he is also joined by another rapper and the drummer from Blink 182. I have this deep down desire to hate Mr. Armstrong because I was once informed, by my (then) fifteen year old son that Rancid were the founding fathers of punk! This was/is a group that was formed in 1991!! Their lead singer is/was Tim Armstrong. Rancid sound so much like The Clash that I was determined to hate everything they did. However, as Joe Strummer went towards a more reggae based sound with The Clash so Tim Armstrong went towards Ska. I fully wait to hear my son tell me that Mr. Armstrong was the founding father of Ska - I will then beat him over the head with every two-tone album I own...much as I hit him over the head with every Clash album I possessed.

18. Huddle Formation - The Go! Team

Another goody to finish with. I like boppy guitar based pop with female vocalists, and this fits the bill perfectly. I love the cheerleader chorus bits as well.

Yep, exactly how I described them the first time I heard them - cheerleaders on crack!


So, in summary, it certainly was a Rick Astley free zone. I have a small confession to make though - I was listening to a documentary on Radio 2 about the Stock, Aitken and Waterman phenomenon and it struck me that if you strip out the cheesy, 80s pop backing track the boy Rick has quite the most amazing singing voice and I'd love to hear him tackle some proper soul classics at some point. Anyhoo, high points of the mix that will send me scurrying to hear more of include Sigur Ros, Los Fabulosas Cadillacs, Tim Armstrong and the Go! Team.

Cool. It is scary sending out a CD full of songs that you might like/love, knowing that someone might just say "meh". I tried and, it sounds like, I suceeded. Of course, if you had hated everything then I would also have counted it as a success. Music can be very individual and if you'd not liked anything I'd have felt a better individual (we're all individuals - I'm not). I agree with you about Rick Astley's voice - didn't he start out as a tea boy at SAW? - it always reminds me of Heather Small (M People)...and that's a good thing :^)

Cheers Will - much appreciated!

Back atcha!