The Music Like Dirt top tracks of the year list returns for a fifth edition and once again falls short of being the most comprehensive, the most knowledgeable or the most bleedin’ edge. It is however consistently the latest and for that I apologise and hold out the hope that as the light fades on January there are still a few hardy souls who still wish to pick over the embers of 2009.
Compiled from a shortlist of around a 1000 tracks through a process of demented indecision until “only” 200 remained. Breathtakingly good tracks were chopped in fits of peak, and the order could still change at any time. The point is these lists are slightly point-less, but these 200 tunes have enriched my life over the last 12 months. Besides half the fun of making charts is looking back at the previous editions of 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008 and realising you shouldn’t be left in control of the car stereo, let alone pontificating on the finest musical output of the year. Declaring Beyonce’s “Single Ladies“ the 45th best of 08 is as far as I’m concerned excuse enough for you to all to leave now.
It’d be great to hear your own favourites and you can now join me in heated debate on Facebook, Twitter or in the comments section of this page.
Emails with the subject line “How can you call yourself a music blogger when you don’t have the Animal Collective in your list” will also be accepted.
If you’re an artist and object to me giving away the fruits of your labour please let me know and I’ll remove the link ASAP.
1. McAlmont and Nyman
“In Rai Don Giovanni”
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“although surgeons fixed his eyes,
He never sees how vulgar he’s become” (lyrics)
All is not well with the musical universe when the glorious voice of David McAlmont is not present at the top of its table. Despite his phenomenal talent McAlmont’s career trajectory has been anything but smoothly ascendant, but in the unlikely form of Michael Nyman he may have finally found his perfect foil.
As this countries most celebrated contemporary composer you wouldn’t expect Nyman to struggle for inspiration but the pair only came together after discovering they shared a similar artistic block. Nyman needed words to spark his compositions to life, while McAlmont lacked the songs. The resulting album “The Glare” is the finest showcase for that unique voice since the first McAlmont & Butler longplayer way back in the mists of the 90′s.
Its no surprise that the project’s concept is suitably highbrow, how many LP’s take inspiration from the 19th century French painter Gericault? He saw his art as a documentary on canvas, telling the tale of news events of his time, sometimes in collaboration with people actually involved in the stories. McAlmont took this on by twinning some of Nyman’s finest works with lyrics written in the first person perspective of the subject of a current headline. So “Going To America” finds captured Somalian pirate Abdiwali Muse worrying about FBI agents and Navy seals, while the title track has Susan Boyle contemplating life as an overnight sensation. Zimbabwe, Joanna Lumley and the Gurka’s… it all sounds painfully clunky as an idea but aside from a few tracks it works phenomenally well. Its also worth reading McAlmonts blog on the lyrics with links to the headlines that inspired each song.
“In Rai Don Giovanni” gives Veronica Lario, the long suffering wife of ageing lothario and statue catcher Silvio Berlusconi a chance to tell her story. Despite first catching Silvio’s eye while stripping off in a play she eventually finds the “skinny blonde model’s” and “floozies younger than his kids” too much to bear and is off “to better things“. Her or rather David’s voice declares all this in celebratory style, the music is bouncy and vibrant, strings pluck and horns parp as she throws off the shackles of a “shameless playboy pimp“. With the P of pimp emphasised with spitting indignation.
What better way to start 2010 than with David McAlmont back centre stage, in his pomp, overblown, exuberant, camp as hell but gloriously beguiling. Even better according to his twitter the pair have re-entered the studio to record a new track together.
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“No one ever says that Im like you, but there are times when I’m frightened they might do”
Lyrics are often the songwriters neglected art, a catchy tune may stick in the head but the right turn of phrase can stop you in your tracks or send the mind spiralling. As such when you stumble across a true wordsmith you tend to hold them tight (or in my case enthuse about them at length on a blog).
The current crop of poets, or at least those that stray from purely spoken word into music seem to be in a rich vein of form when it comes to matching jaw droppingly good lyrics with a decent tune. Scroobius Pip returns with a new single “Get Better (YouTube)” in March and Kate Tempest’s Sound Of Rum LP was a highlight of last year, to name but two. At the top of that tree sits Polar Bear, an act Ive plugged so much that as I said in a previous post I’m dangerously close to donning a ra-ra skirt, energetically thrusting pom poms in the air and demanding readers “Give me a P… give me an O“.
“Locked Doors” a collaboration with Octave Mouret is achingly beautiful, with deceptively simple deft production allowing the words due prominence. PolarBear draws his stories from the ordinary, and the simple truth that there’s nothing more powerful or easy to relate to than everyday life. In this case the father/son relationship, and dealing with a dad who mostly isn’t there. The words are defiant yet laced with damage, the son may never “google his name, or sit on night buses wondering where he is” but the pity for the fathers loss can’t help but reflect back… “If I ever put even one foot into your shoes, I have people who’ll stop me“. As with all of PolarBear’s work its deeply affective, brilliantly judged and has more in common with Mike Leigh or Jimmy McGovern than any songwriter I know.
He’s always got several projects on the go at any one time so I’d recommend signing up for his mailing list to keep uptodate, or Twitter, although that mostly features the amusing things a son says to his dad.
PolarBears latest major piece is a collaboration with BAC called “Return” in which an entire film is conjured up and imagined through spoken work. The run starts in March, snap up your tickets here (I will be).
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“you don’t even like this song, you just dig the hook”
With its rumbling bass, subtle keys and whispered fruitiness “Freeki MF” is the sound of a pre-Jehovah Prince getting upto no good with some early Chicago/Detroit house. Riding a spartan backing Moodymann throatily intones his tale of voyeurism while the lady in his sights sighs and coo’s at his every line.
It’s probably the most sexually charged record since Lil Louis’s peak or at least since Prince released the Scandalous Sex suite, a 25 minute recording of his seduction of Kim Bassinger. Thankfully its a far better record than listening to half an hour of Prince & Kim shagging, but like Scandalous it has a comical quality. You can whisper the line “You used to ride the bus, today you took the train” in as gravely a voice as you like but it’ll raise a laugh before anything else.
One of the finest records of the year even if it does swing wildly across the lines of steaminess, comedy and creepiness.
In the interests of accuracy I should point out that I’ve discovered this actually came out in Dec 08, and has been a live favourite since 2005.
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“There will not be a good future for the rich, if there is no prospect of a better future for the poor”
A critique of the IMF’s systematic destruction of the Jamaican economy as told through the medium of a stonking great pop reggae anthem. It doesnt matter that as a sheltered speaker of our Queens English I cant understand half of what Terry is saying, the chorus is still cutting yet unbelievably catchy.
The IMF’s mantra of liberalize, privatise and deregulate is infamous, and its bullying of countries like Jamaica into selling their assets in return for access to loans has been the subject of entire documentaries. The award winning 2001 film “Life & Debt” examined what the Jamaican Prime Minister called the “imperialist” actions of the IMF. Its available to watch online, and features the speech by IMF Director Horst Kohler sampled by Terry on this track.
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“Watch things on VCRs, with me and talk about big love” (lyrics)
Aside from the obligatory Animal Collective, The XX were probably the most blogged about band of 2009. Unlike the Animal Collective however they broke through into the mainstream aided by a huge marketing spend from their label XL. Three or four promos were sent to me alone, posters plastered the tube, and it worked as critics applauded and the kind of people who buy their CD’s at Tesco bought into the band. That may sound outlandishly snobby, but on several occasions people I know who have never expressed any particular love for music beyond Radio 2 blasted out The XX and evangelised wildly on their behalf. And the reason beyond the hype and the major label? Its quite a simply a bloody good album.
“VCR” is the poppiest and lightest of the albums tunes, a simple love song about “watching films” together with the musical accompaniment of little more than a bass and sweet xylophone. I could in truth have picked four or five off the disc as my favourite, without even going into all the fine remixes on offer (eg Pariahs fantastic “Basic Space”).
Recently I attended xx: A Sculpture of the Album, a “3D physical interpretation” in a large empty storeroom beneath Soho’s Phonica records. It’s a decent idea, with three pillars, each containing a video performance from one band member and depending where you stand the mix of the album changes. I can’t say I was exactly bowled over by the experience but the visit did offer an opportunity for a bit of banter with my brother over the merits of The XX.
In his eyes the sparse sound of The XX is not beautifully simple, its just simple full stop. All the tracks fairly similar and unremarkable… its just pleasant. The debate concluded with my brother insisting he made sounds like the XX when he first tried to play a guitar. He confidently stated he could therefore easily toss off an XX LP in an afternoon. Needless to say I didnt agree but I’ve offered to pay for the release of this LP should he be able to deliver on his bold claim!
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“Don’t fight the Vibes… I like the vibes”
Winterthur, Switzerland – Not the first place that comes to mind when imagining hotbeads of 21st century Reggae sounds. Ok, old Pipecock Jackxon aka Lee “Scratch” Perry made Zurich his home but the 2 DJ’s/2 Producer’s team going by the name Talen should put Switzerland on the reggae map.
Dancehall meets dubstep with an absolute thumping bass drum made fiercer still by ragga royalty Sizzla booming his love of “Reggae music“.
The track works especially well when played very loudly on motorways (I havent tested it on A roads). Many long journeys out West were accompanied by me hitting continual repeat on this “Talen Sound“.
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“Mommy took a bus trip and now she got her bust out,
Everybody ride her, just like a bus route”
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“You know the ills of this world they can get you down
But then you get back up”
Watch: Unofficial video for “The Ills” as beautifully crafted by an annoyingly talented bloke I work with (below). Inspired use of archive footage, unlike a similar-ish attempt at Coldcut’s Beats & Pieces I bashed together but never finished about 15 years ago.
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“If the walls were too thin, You would break right in”
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12. Cracks In The Concrete
“Ballad of Ashley Marie”
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“you cant afford me, you sad sorry fuck… im dearer than rubys, you’re shit out of luck”
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“I don’t eat, I don’t sleep, I do nothing but think of you”
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“I want to wrap my hands around his crooked neck
and throw him overboard”
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“diggin for them secret doors, one day you shall find it”
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“I love her, she loves me too. That’s why we get togetherrr”
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“Full stops and exclamation marks
Oooh my words stumble before I start”
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“Health care hair, Drive by thighs
Education lips, HIV eyes” (lyrics)
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30. Randan Discotheque
“Daily Record May 18th 1993”
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“I forgot about that, Cliff Maier sold his wife to an arab millionaire”
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“If he breaks your heart, Will I stand a chance?” (lyrics)
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“I know some days are hard, But must you make mine too”
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“Should have taken acid with you, Melt our tongues and become unglued”
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“When I saw you walkin by. Girl you blew my mind.” (lyrics)
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“Sweet silver angels over the sea, Please come down flyin’ low for me”
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“Brought me down straight to my knees, She’s doing things I’ve never seen”
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“Before you, My whole life was acapella!
Now a symphony’s, The only song to sing”
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“Starting to feel just a little abused
Like a coffine machine in an office”
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“So you say it’s not okay to be gay, Well, I think you’re just evil
You’re just some racist who can’t tie my laces, Your point of view is medieval”
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“Ohh Lover gone, this song is not a love song, because our love is gone”
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“Your favourite dude champions every Chicago city slum
From his condominium”
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“Honey, you know I Love You
there’s no one above you… And no one below”
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“You never even liked me, how the hell you wanna save me”
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“Fu*k you like a billionaire. Debonair, in my Fred Astaire footwear”
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“Anyone who says Shoreditch folk are arseholes has obviously never tried playing an indie gig in a pub in Colchester” (lyrics)
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“I was made for loving you, baby, You were made for loving me”
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“I’m really fine, I’m well balanced, I’m OK, Im OK”
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“A Hard On, A Hard On, A Hard On dont mean you’re in love”
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Video below: At last years SXSW Alice & her band were kind enough to let me follow them around for BBC News during a day (and well into the next) of gigs.
64. Erol Alkan & Boys Noize “Waves (Chilly Gonzales Piano Remake)” (MP3 Removed)
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“She said pop culture reffrences will date your shit like Futurama, he said fie that bullcrap,
I that Bratpack, ask Amanda Palmer”
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“after all that we’ve been through
i know that i will always love you”
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“Im not an evil man, on pancake day Ill lend you my frying man”
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“We’re zeroxing your legacy, while we feed you on your shame”
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“When I’m in the club. I’m always on a drug. If you get a hug. Guess what drug.
I’m on ecstasy” (lyrics)
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“Just relax and follow me, until we start to fly. Apostrophe”
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“Why are there nightmares? And who made my shoes?
Why are there children shedding blood on the news?” (lyrics)
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“In case things go poorly and I not return
Remember the good things I’ve done”
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“Can we make the time to leave it behind and reshape, remake our Fate in what we see”
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“Your face will be the reason I smile
But I will not see what I cannot have forever”
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“I can hear it in your voice, There’s always a catch…
We’re going nowhere, And we’re going there fast.”
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“the three words always end
and you know we can’t pretend”
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“God never gave me a shoulder, baby, strong enough to carry your goodbye tearstains on”
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“You the fucking best, you the fucking best
You the best I ever had, best I ever had”
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“We dont want too many speeches, its all about the music”
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“take your dollar, your buck, I couldnt give a… penny“
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“Was your work of art so heavy that it would not let you live?”
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“Damp and bruised by stranger’s kisses on my lips
But you’re the one that I still miss” (lyrics)
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“Hold your fingers up to the sun,
trace the bones feel the blood run”
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Read: Father Abraham was kind enough to take part in one of Music Like Dirt’s irregular features “Listen To This“. He picked 3 songs for me, and I did the same back. Did he really hate them all!!?? Read Pt1 / Pt2 (and download some fantastic music too)
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“All the plans I had, like butterflies on my hands
have now flown from reach”
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There’s enough music here to fill my brain till your next top 200, so thanks MLD for all your graft. Your obsession with McAlmont mirrors my own fascination with Will Young, perhaps, but I’m sure you’ll insist it’s all about The Voice.
No my fondness for McAlmont does not mirror your rampant man-love for Mr. Young. I’m yet to write a poem to McAlmont, describe him as “a dreamboat” or declare a wish that “Stoke On Trent” was what I was not where Im from!
There's enough music here to fill my brain till your next top 200, so thanks MLD for all your graft. Your obsession with McAlmont mirrors my own fascination with Will Young, perhaps, but I'm sure you'll insist it's all about The Voice.
No my fondness for McAlmont does not mirror your rampant man-love for Mr. Young. I'm yet to write a poem to McAlmont, describe him as "a dreamboat" or declare a wish that "Stoke On Trent" was what I was not where Im from!
Loverly stuff brother. Glad to see a house tune at number 3, even though it’s a bit dirty. Think you need an easy to read list of top 100 too, unless I’m not seeing it. Peace.
Loverly stuff brother. Glad to see a house tune at number 3, even though it's a bit dirty. Think you need an easy to read list of top 100 too, unless I'm not seeing it. Peace.
No, thank you Mr Abraham! Thanks for your help on the site last year and congratulations on making it through the phenomenal task of a track each and every year.
Look forward to finding out what youve got in store for us all in 2010… you’re probably overdue a break first though!
No, thank you Mr Abraham! Thanks for your help on the site last year and congratulations on making it through the phenomenal task of a track each and every year.
Look forward to finding out what youve got in store for us all in 2010… you're probably overdue a break first though!
[...] the foreigner blog – Spain Daily the geek blog – Boing Boing the cute blog - Cute Overload the gossip blog - Damn, I’m cute! the grammar blog – Grammar Girl the personal blog – Greg The Boyfriend the music blog – Music Like Dirt [...]
as MN Records label manager and someone who was part of the team responsible for putting the album ‘The Glare’ together – on which is the track ‘In Rai Don Giovanni’ – please allow me to say ‘glad you liked it and pleased to see it up there at number 1′
the album will be put forward for the Mercury Prize this year. The PR surrounding this was phenomenal.
The Sunday Times said “exactly the right mix of mainstream appeal and quirky individuality to nab the Mercury Prize”
theartsdesk.com said “a shoo-in for the Mercury Music Prize shortlist”
as MN Records label manager and someone who was part of the team responsible for putting the album 'The Glare' together – on which is the track 'In Rai Don Giovanni' – please allow me to say 'glad you liked it and pleased to see it up there at number 1'
the album will be put forward for the Mercury Prize this year. The PR surrounding this was phenomenal.
The Sunday Times said "exactly the right mix of mainstream appeal and quirky individuality to nab the Mercury Prize"
theartsdesk.com said "a shoo-in for the Mercury Music Prize shortlist"
Great list. Really varied, put me onto loads of new stuff. Usually find these end of year lists too heavy to wade through but with this one if I don’t like one I’ll like the next. Thanks for the effort to put it together bookmarked the site definitely gonna be back!
Great list. Really varied, put me onto loads of new stuff. Usually find these end of year lists too heavy to wade through but with this one if I don't like one I'll like the next. Thanks for the effort to put it together bookmarked the site definitely gonna be back!
In her recent Melbourne concert Amanda Palmer somehow climbed up on to the left hand tier of The Forum and in amongst the dilapidated statues and with no mic, just a ukulele in hand, closed the night with an acoustic cover of Radiohead’s Creep. An absolutely incredible show where you couldn’t have asked for any more
In her recent Melbourne concert Amanda Palmer somehow climbed up on to the left hand tier of The Forum and in amongst the dilapidated statues and with no mic, just a ukulele in hand, closed the night with an acoustic cover of Radiohead’s Creep. An absolutely incredible show where you couldn’t have asked for any more
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There’s enough music here to fill my brain till your next top 200, so thanks MLD for all your graft. Your obsession with McAlmont mirrors my own fascination with Will Young, perhaps, but I’m sure you’ll insist it’s all about The Voice.
No my fondness for McAlmont does not mirror your rampant man-love for Mr. Young. I’m yet to write a poem to McAlmont, describe him as “a dreamboat” or declare a wish that “Stoke On Trent” was what I was not where Im from!
There's enough music here to fill my brain till your next top 200, so thanks MLD for all your graft. Your obsession with McAlmont mirrors my own fascination with Will Young, perhaps, but I'm sure you'll insist it's all about The Voice.
No my fondness for McAlmont does not mirror your rampant man-love for Mr. Young. I'm yet to write a poem to McAlmont, describe him as "a dreamboat" or declare a wish that "Stoke On Trent" was what I was not where Im from!
Miss Piggy Peaches cover was pretty awesome. Fans of Scroobius Pip will enjoy this interview http://bit.ly/9uPvoR
Miss Piggy Peaches cover was pretty awesome. Fans of Scroobius Pip will enjoy this interview http://bit.ly/9uPvoR
really interesting interview Chris. Didnt know about the Christian Scott collab
really interesting interview Chris. Didnt know about the Christian Scott collab
Loverly stuff brother. Glad to see a house tune at number 3, even though it’s a bit dirty. Think you need an easy to read list of top 100 too, unless I’m not seeing it. Peace.
Loverly stuff brother. Glad to see a house tune at number 3, even though it's a bit dirty. Think you need an easy to read list of top 100 too, unless I'm not seeing it. Peace.
Thanks! I like being on end-of-year lists.
Thanks! I like being on end-of-year lists.
No, thank you Mr Abraham! Thanks for your help on the site last year and congratulations on making it through the phenomenal task of a track each and every year.
Look forward to finding out what youve got in store for us all in 2010… you’re probably overdue a break first though!
No, thank you Mr Abraham! Thanks for your help on the site last year and congratulations on making it through the phenomenal task of a track each and every year.
Look forward to finding out what youve got in store for us all in 2010… you're probably overdue a break first though!
Nice one. I thought the Glasser remix went unnoticed.
Nice one. I thought the Glasser remix went unnoticed.
Not by me it didnt. Brings back memories of A Guy Called Gerald’s classic Voodoo Ray for some reason, which is never a bad thing!
Not by me it didnt. Brings back memories of A Guy Called Gerald's classic Voodoo Ray for some reason, which is never a bad thing!
Sheeeeet!
I forgot about that ‘Cookout’ track you played me in my list. That would have been way high.
Ryan.
Sheeeeet!
I forgot about that 'Cookout' track you played me in my list. That would have been way high.
Ryan.
[...] the foreigner blog – Spain Daily the geek blog – Boing Boing the cute blog - Cute Overload the gossip blog - Damn, I’m cute! the grammar blog – Grammar Girl the personal blog – Greg The Boyfriend the music blog – Music Like Dirt [...]
Dear musiclikedirt,
as MN Records label manager and someone who was part of the team responsible for putting the album ‘The Glare’ together – on which is the track ‘In Rai Don Giovanni’ – please allow me to say ‘glad you liked it and pleased to see it up there at number 1′
the album will be put forward for the Mercury Prize this year. The PR surrounding this was phenomenal.
The Sunday Times said “exactly the right mix of mainstream appeal and quirky individuality to nab the Mercury Prize”
theartsdesk.com said “a shoo-in for the Mercury Music Prize shortlist”
you still live in stoke? I’m in Stone
Dear musiclikedirt,
as MN Records label manager and someone who was part of the team responsible for putting the album 'The Glare' together – on which is the track 'In Rai Don Giovanni' – please allow me to say 'glad you liked it and pleased to see it up there at number 1'
the album will be put forward for the Mercury Prize this year. The PR surrounding this was phenomenal.
The Sunday Times said "exactly the right mix of mainstream appeal and quirky individuality to nab the Mercury Prize"
theartsdesk.com said "a shoo-in for the Mercury Music Prize shortlist"
you still live in stoke? I'm in Stone
Great list. Really varied, put me onto loads of new stuff. Usually find these end of year lists too heavy to wade through but with this one if I don’t like one I’ll like the next. Thanks for the effort to put it together bookmarked the site definitely gonna be back!
Great list. Really varied, put me onto loads of new stuff. Usually find these end of year lists too heavy to wade through but with this one if I don't like one I'll like the next. Thanks for the effort to put it together bookmarked the site definitely gonna be back!
In her recent Melbourne concert Amanda Palmer somehow climbed up on to the left hand tier of The Forum and in amongst the dilapidated statues and with no mic, just a ukulele in hand, closed the night with an acoustic cover of Radiohead’s Creep. An absolutely incredible show where you couldn’t have asked for any more
In her recent Melbourne concert Amanda Palmer somehow climbed up on to the left hand tier of The Forum and in amongst the dilapidated statues and with no mic, just a ukulele in hand, closed the night with an acoustic cover of Radiohead’s Creep. An absolutely incredible show where you couldn’t have asked for any more
I've only seen Amanda live briefly in a church at SXSW, but I was filming and not really paying attention. Got to see her next time she tours
I’ve only seen Amanda live briefly in a church at SXSW, but I was filming and not really paying attention. Got to see her next time she tours
Wow gr8 songs i liked some of them .can u recomend me some nice european dance songs.
Wow gr8 songs i liked some of them .can u recomend me some nice european dance songs.
Didnt know about the Christian Scott collab
Didnt know about the Christian Scott collab