We’re a diverse bunch here at Clash. To reveal the depths of our collective musical obsession we thought it’d be a good idea to ask some of our writers to share their current musical favourites. The songs that are dominating their stereo / iPod / turntable time, whether they be old or new, achingly hip or cringingly naff.
This week, writer Colm Field steps up to share some of his choices, with La Roux, Arctic Monkeys, Steve Earle and D’Angelo battling for space. But first, Jamie T…
With hammer on steel we’re given the call – the South London songsmith is back with a greater sense of occasion than any around. There’s better tracks on the album, but none with the exaggerated gravitas that this gets away with; when the revolution comes, the drugged masses will cry “368!” and consequences be damned.
For those of us praying that, if we must stay there, let’s at least find the good bits of the 80s, (more northern club tracks, less fuckin shoulder pads), this gives us some solace. Okay, so there’s still the Commodore 64 music in the background, live with it – when the beat drops and your trousers go with it, something’s being done right.
The troubled singer – who gets this heterosexual male giggling like a Catholic schoolgirl – is about to make a comeback and it’s a perfick time to dust off the velvet cushions, light the candles, and treat the missus to a juicy steak dinner with all the trimmings, all the while praying she doesn’t see that video and wonder what the hell she’s wasting her time with you for, ya fat bastard.
Alright, then maybe the 80s weren’t so bad. If a derivative revival of some posh tits in spandex is what we have to go through for this body-dropping sexuality and Christ-alive! voice, then bring it on! Is there no chance of just taking the latter though? Any chance, please? Please?!
These are dark days, and if you can’t see that, cosseted in your shitty office job, typing out soulless memorandums that most likely spell doom for millions downtrodden by your fascist obsession for efficiency, then you need a kick in the chops. Or you could listen to this instead.
They didn’t! They did, and it’s gutting, a great band undone by this attempt at covering Nick Cave’s masterpiece. They get away with it, partly because they’re normally mega, but mainly because this strangely addictive yet shite track only serves to highlight the genius of the original.
It’s just so sad, and should be patronising rubbish. But it’s not.
This is the first and last track you’ll ever want to know about with autotune (seriously, Jay Z was right – the rest are very crap).
All over this sceptred isle, building sites, docks and factories are alive with this Man’s Man song. Fuck yourselves, we say to the snooty pricks claiming that it’s too basic. It reeks of Hard Graft purified into four chords, and that’s just too much for you. At least we would say that, if Magic FM wasn’t on all the time…
[You can hear ‘Pizza in The Sky’ on Ryan’s MySpace HERE]
Excellent, another comedy record! From an American! Not just any American though, Ryan Adams, the fella with all the tantrums! Brilliant! It is, it actually is, Mr. Adams has by now climbed such mountains of hostility and talent that he can get away with this. Not again soon though, Ryan, you’ve been pushing your luck since 2003.
Words by Colm Field
