ROULETTE 30

"Absence makes the heart grow fonder; fondness makes the absence longer."


This past week or so, after a slew of great finds, I've been getting back my music mojo and really enjoying some new albums. Though I open the post with an oldie (for me, at least), you'll see that I take my search for the best music in 2008 very seriously, and I hope you enjoy exploring this year's releases alongside me.

Ace of Base - Unspeakable (Junk and Function Mix) (Unspeakable CDS, 2002)

An old favourite, and one of the first remixes I ever liked. there's just something about this song that makes me dance a little in my seat. Ace of Base should be returning in 2008/2009 with new material, and I'm very curious to see what they've come up with.

Yoav - Where Is My Mind? (Pixies cover) (Charmed and Strange, 2008)

After following advice from a tBoS commenter and fellow blogger, eng+, I began to check out Yoav's album Charmed and Strange, and I'm genuinely impressed. One of the best offering in my first listen of the album is a cover of one of my oft-forgotten favourites, Pixies's "Where Is My Mind?". It has a completely different feel, with a subdued, guitar-led introspective take.

Jem - Aciiid! (Down to Earth, 2008)

I do know it's been a bit overkill with Jem these past few days, but I've been waiting years for this follow-up and I'm quickly falling in love with her music all over again. She's just loveable here, with her singing bits in Japanese and just the utter sense of fun in this song. It feels like a song designed for DDR, really. It's a breath of fresh air, as I've been listening to some heavier stuff lately.

Joshua Radin feat. Meiko - Sky (Simple Times, 2008)

Joshua Radin's last record We Were Here (2006) was a quick favourite at first, pulling tightly on the heartstrings. After one too many listens, it began to feel overly sappy, and I abandoned it for other fare. Radin is master of this genre, though, and although I may not be head-over-heels with this follow-up, I do fully expect to enjoy it. This song, featuring Meiko, is a nice one about dreaming about your partner leaving you, and the warm feeling when you wake up and they're still there.

Los Campesinos - We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed (We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed, 2008)

The title track from next month's release, Los Campesinos' second in 2008, is a new take of some old tricks. For those who've overplayed their first album, it may be too soon to give this one a shot as it's very much the same feel of the last album. However, as I never did so, I'm definitely enjoying it. Considering the above lyric from the song, however, makes me wonder exactly how fond Los Campesinos are of Hold On Now, Youngster..., even if I love it.

Jason Mraz feat. Colbie Caillat - Lucky (We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things; 2008)

It's always been very hit-and-miss with Jason Mraz for me, on a song-by-song basis. That said, I'm very fond of this downright cute duet between he and Colbie Caillat, that's in the vein of the above "Sky" in being thankful for a relationship. Here, Mraz outshines Radin and gives Caillat much more to do than poor Meiko, but both songs are worth your time.

Alt-Ctrl-Sleep - Stay (Alt-Ctrl-Sleep; 2008)

A beautiful psychadelic pop track from husband-and-wife duo Joe and April Diaco, who have created some very pretty, introspective and entrancing music here. Just listening to this music draws you in, softly but surely, with its softly pulsing music and rare, dreamy-fuzzy vocals. Give them a listen, I think you'll find them very intriguing.

And don't forget, search for more at The Hype Machine; purchase albums or mp3's at Amazon, Amazon Canada, Amie St., cdbaby, or Insound.

TOP 100 SONGS OF 2007: 41-50

We've now made it into the Top 50! Excellent! You guys are in for a treat. Sorry for the long wait; my headphones broke and I had to procure a new pair. Fear not, that has been done and I can now listen to music unbothered by a missing half of the song. Now, here we go...

50. Scala & Kolacny Brothers – Fake Plastic Trees (Radiohead cover) (Sendspace link)
Album: One-Winged Angel

I've heard a number of covers - Alanis, KT Tunstall - and this one is the best. The choir sound works perfectly with the quiet piano backing for a song that's as enigmatic lyrically as any other. Scala's mix of voice tones shows a great improvement here over their earlier albums, and there's real soul to it. And when they reach a climax, it's heavenly.

49. Dragonette - I Get Around (Sendspace link)
Album: Galore

A great beat mixed with Dragonette's lyrics that follow their sexual themes. This time, it's a clandestine relationship between two people who run in similar circles. It's weird how Drqagonette can make what seems like a sleazy moment seem so fun, but I have a feeling it has a lot to do with Martina Sorbara's vocals and the heavy synths

48. Calexico - Ocean of Noise (Arcade Fire cover) (Sendspace link)
Album: Arcade Fire - Intervention (single)

The rare cover that is far superior to the original, Calexico is perfectly suited to this song. What was a bit of a dull spot on Neon Bible becomes a soul-tunning love song, with Joey Burns bringing great emotion to the song where the original vocals fell flat emotionally. The sadness, the desperation here is great. Probably my cover of 2007 too, had I made that list and kept track of my covers.

47. Eisley - Invasion (Sendspace link)
Album: Combinations

The gem in Combinations' crown, this is a joy to listen to. The creepy feeling obtained without the common quiet style is refreshing, and the chorus is wonderful. "You, you, you would take the breath from my throat and you, you you would take the cherished people that I love." That bit is sung marvellously, with fear and desperation mixed in with accusation. The rest of the lyrics are great as well, mixing calm with horror.

46. Feist - 1 2 3 4 (Sendspace link)
Album: The Reminder

There is a reason Apple picked this song for its commercial and, thus, caused it to be simultaneously everywhere at all times. It's a really good song. Leslie Feist's voice is on top form here, with some nice lyrics and horns and is just a really nice song. You probably already know.

45. Jason Mraz - The Beauty in Ugly (Sendspace link)
Album: Single

Reworked from one of Mraz's unreleased songs to be a theme for Ugly Betty's "Be Ugly" campaign, this song illustrates the themes of that series perfectly, refusing to allow physical beauty to be the only measure of worth in this thin-led world. The chorus is inspiring, ordering those downtrodden by imperfect looks to 'own [their] name and stand up tall'.

44. Alanis Morissette - My Humps (Fergie cover) (Sendspace link)
Album: Internet Release

There are very few, if any, moments funnier in 2007 than Alanis Morissette's cover and accompanying video of Fergie's ridiculous song, "My Humps". Taking a hyped-up hiphop song about bling and boobs and turning it into a piano-led ballad it highlighted exactly how ridiculous the song is, while Alanis takes a moment to laugh a little at herself and her maudlin image as well. The video is especially hilarious, featuring Alanis' take on Fergie's original.

43. The Sunshine Underground - Commercial Breakdown (Sendspace link)
Album: Raise the Alarm

A great rocking song about, what else, the overcommercialisation of the modern age, and the frustrations inherent in trying to survive with a soul. A moment, where "I used to think that these things happen for a reason" just perfectly illustrates the confusion and hopelessness of it.

42. The Gossip - Careless Whisper (Wham! cover) (Sendspace link)
Album: Radio 1 Established 1967 (Covers compilation)

This song is just a vehicle for amazing covers. First Ben Foldss & Rufus Wainwright's soulful duet of it I found, and now Gossip lead singer Beth Ditto utterly owns it in a powerful cover recorded for the Radio 1 tribute album released this year. The music has a real dance feel to it, and the emotion in Ditto's voice makes the song work really well, bringing in regret and sadness while never losing its power.

41. Camera Obscura - Hands Up Baby (Sendspace link)
Album: If Looks Could Kill EP

A simple, understated b-side to If Looks Could Kill (EP), this song is about a couple of truly broken people. A duet, from the point of view of a man with a gun and his kidnapped ex with an acid tongue. Lines like, "you don't remember things I can't forget" say more than whole stanzas of other songs. Neither of these people are happy, and both wouldn't be sad to just let it end and the darkness here is pretty powerful. A wonderful song.

We've started into the bigger deals here, and I'm very happy to be sharing these with you guys. And remember, if you enjoy these songs, I urge you to check out their artists!