Music blog. Throughout 2011 I'll be posting one song a day from the 90s, counting down the 'best' 365 with #1 being posted on December 31st. One song per artist. Also posted will be little features on new music and bands, as well as mixtapes made by myself and guests. During 2010 posted my favourite 365 tracks of 2000-2009, you can read that list here
#251 - …And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead - Mistakes & Regrets
Sometimes writing a few hundred words and 10.0 score does the job. There are other times when writing lyrics in capitals does a better job.
If I could make a list
Of my mistakes and regrets
I’d put your name on top
And every line after it
IF I COULD MAKE A LIST
OF MY MISTAKES AND REGRETS
I’D PUT YOUR NAME ON TOP
AND EVERY LINE AFTER IT
#347 - Lambchop - Life’s Little Tragedy
From the only Lambchop record i’ve heard, 1996’s How I Quit Smoking. It’s pretty essential I’m sure that I find more stuff from here but I wouldn’t know where to go. Recommendations?
#68 - Arcade Fire - Wake Up
If i was a mega boring objectivey all encompassing indie publication who singlehandlely decides CONSENSUS, i’d probably say Funeral was the “best” record made in the last ten years. There’s a chemistry there that won’t ever be matched, even if Neon Bible (yes, you massive revisionists) and The Suburbs try their hardest.
Indie rock, huh?
#175 - Destroyer - Virgin With A Memory
Included pretty much entirely for the liryx.
#238 - Camera Obscura - Lloyd, I’m Ready To Be Heartbroken
#240 - The Clean - Complications
Imma be well topical today and say dont vote tory, because you should definitely listen to the opinions of some guy who writes a terrible blog.
Then imma urge you to do something just as important: listen to The Clean. Honestly, if you’re a fan of pretty much indie or guitar music, I can guarantee you will like them - my favourite band that has ever existed. Totally essential. Here are some artists that have covered The Clean to make you interested, in bold to grab your attention: Guided By Voices, Pavement, Times New Viking, American Analog Set, Chris Knox, Calexico, MGMT, Alastair Galbraith. And Broken Social Scene, who covered this track above as part of a largely excellent tribute to Merge Records. You can download it here.
The cover adds a pretty nice sheen to the lo-fi clutter of the original, while also accentuating the awesome Born To Run-esque hook. SPEAKING OF WHICH, the cover also starts with the words “this song was written before born to run” which makes me very confused because, as far as I’m aware this song first appeared on 2001’s Getaway LP (i’m 99% certain), making it eligible for this list. Someone correct me if i’m wrong though!
Anyway, you may be asking if this band is so incredible and important then why am I featuring them relatively low on the list? This would be because I don’t think their post-2000 output has been totally incredible but still very solid (last year’s Mister Pop outshines pretty much any new guitar band today). If I could recommend anything it would be the Anthology compilation released in 2002, compiling all the songs from their early EPs into the greatest collection of indie-pop songs you will hear in your entire life. Incredible Hit after Incredible Hit after Incredible Hit after Incredible Hit. If this is all new to you, you have an incredible world of kiwi indie-pop to discover on the best label that’s ever existed, Flying Nun Records - this compilation comes thoroughly recommended as a starting point.
Seeing them for the first time next weekend at Pavement ATP. It might be the most I’ve ever looked forward to seeing a band play in my life.
