Countdown to Christmas Post #11

Is this one of the creepiest videos ever?

Low -'Santa's Coming Over.'



Boy am I glad I teach secondary (high school for American and Canadian readers).

Meanwhile, seeing as I am trying to tidy up some lose ends with this post, here is another Christmas Fall song:

The Fall -'Xmas with Simon.' mp3

Looking for the remix call 'Christmastide' which I do not own, and is not on either emusic or iTunes...

Countdown to Christmas Post #8

There is an argument that this evening's track, the opening one on Low's Christmas LP, is the best Christmas track to appear over the last ten years.

I haven't been blown away by Low's latest single 'Santa's Coming Over' though I like the b-side 'The Coming Of Jah.' Mormons from Minnesota covering reggae? Don't knock it...

Low -'Just Like Christmas.' mp3

And, I know I posted this last year, but what the hell...

Aberdeen City -'Just Like Christmas (Low cover).' mp3

Sad songs say so much...

One of my favourite albums of the decade has to be Things We Lost In The Fire by Low.

This is the opening track, and it kinda speaks for itself...Enjoy...

Low -'Sunflower.' mp3

Some Low for Saturday

Call it slowcore, sadcore...or one of the most famous Mormon acts (well, alongside The Osmond family and uh, Wayne Hussey from the Mission, who was raised a Mormon), Low are something else. Supported heavily by Peel, I remember being utterly blown away by their 2001 album Things We Lost In The Fire, and when John Peel played 'Sunflower' I was genuinely moved. Though the first thing I ever bought was the Christmas LP and and the Dinosaur Act 7". From Rough Trade in London, natch.

THese three tracks all made the 2002 Festive Fifty, and I think listening to these, it's more than possible, given just how much I love the aforementioned Things... and 2005's The Great Destroyer that I have forgotten how good this album is too.

Low -'In The Drugs.' mp3 (2002 Festive Fifty no.16)

Low -'Canada.' mp3 (2002 Festive Fifty no.18)

Low -'(That's How You Sing) Amazing Grace.' mp3 (2002 Festive Fifty no.36)

Low's official website

Do buy as much Low stuff as you can, if you like what you hear here.

Some Covers For Saturday Part V

It has been a while since I posted any covers here, but I've always enjoyed posti ng weird and wonderful covers...so why not?

BTW, very pleased to see just how many hits this blog is getting. Don't forget to tell your friends and help me keep the traffic up.

Dump -'Raspberry Beret.' mp3 (Prince cover)

Xiu Xiu -''Ceremony (New Order cover).' mp3

Wilco -'Something In The air (Thunderclap Newman cover).' mp3

Voxtrot -'Love Vigilantes (New Order cover).' mp3

Thin Lizzy -'Whisky In The Jar (Irish Folk song).' mp3

Polyphonic Spree -'Wig In A Box (From Hedwig and the Angry Inch.' mp3

Bonnie 'Prince' Billy -'Puff the Magic Dragon (Peter, Paul and Mary cover).' mp3

LCD Soundsystem -'No Love Lost (Joy Division cover).' mp3

Low -'Nowhere man (The beatles cover.' mp3

Canasta -'The model (Kraftwerk cover).' mp3

Songs For Christmas

OK, folks, as promised, the 17 Seconds Christmas Spectacular!

The aim is to post Christmas tracks every day between now and Christmas, as well as other stuff.

So to start it all off today, Low's 'Just Like Christmas' and two cover versions of it.

Enjoy!

Low -'Just Like Christmas.' mp3

Aberdeen City -'Just Like Christmas.' mp3

Snow Patrol -'Just Like Christmas.' mp3

Enjoy!

A few songs for the soon to be Mrs. 17 Seconds

Well, in two days time we'll be getting married. The future in-laws have arrived in Edinburgh, my folks are arriving later and we're both excited and nervous.

Anyway, this post is dedicated to the soon to be Mrs. 17 Seconds.

Ash-'Does Your Mother Know?' mp3

Cooper Temple Clause-'Let's Kill Music.' mp3

Cure-'Close To me.' mp3

Low-'California.' mp3

Rob Dougan -'Clubbed To Death.' mp3

Scritti Politti-'The 'Sweetest Girl'.' mp3

As always, if you liek what you hear, support the artists involved. And a hello to Robin, who I went record shopiing with yesterday and said he was still waiting for a shoutout on this blog!

Monday Monday

Hi, just a brief, brief post.

I survived my first day back at school, and I'm okay...but very tired.

Here are two tracks I love, which I know I have posted in the past, but they sense of sadness is something I connect with, right now, I guess.

Sweet Dreams.

Low -'Monkey.' mp3

from the album The Great Destroyer

Schneider TM -'The Light 3000.' mp3

Can be found on Rough Trade Shops electronic 01 compilation

The 100th post

(when I started writing the blog, I hadn't got my cats. this is them, several months ago)

Well, and here we are! This is the 100th post I have done on the blog. Over the course of seven months, my interest in music, along with comments on teaching and hitting thirty have given me something to work on. Whilst I still dream of having as many readers as some of the other blogs, the feedback I have received has been flattering, and if I had as little rubbish to deal with at school as I do here, life would be easier!!

Thanks to my long-suffering girlfriend, and my family for their feedback, and friends and readers (of course, these are not necessarily mutually exclusive) who have helped this come along. I have learned more about computers along the way, and there's probably fewer rants about it all now...

What I've done this time is just to pick ten great tracks, no theme, just stuff I love, and really hope you do too. As ever, if you like'em, do go and buy them.

Here's to the next one hundred posts. Enjoy the music.

Scanners -'Lowlife.' mp3

Schneider TM -'The Light 3000.' mp3

Sebadoh -'The Freed Pig.' mp3

Badly Drawn Boy -'Something To Talk About.' mp3

Black Box Recorder -'Child Psychology.' mp3

Dizzee Rascal -'Fix Up, Look Sharp.' mp3

Aereogramme -'Zionist Timing.' mp3

Low -'Monkey.' mp3

Hot Hot Heat -'Get In Or Get Out.' mp3

Bloc Party -'Banquet.' mp3