Hello and welcome to Work Tunes.
Another short week at work next week, with the Australia Day public holiday coming up on Thursday. That's okay though, because the week I just had was extra long. Never mind all that now though, it's on to the music.
For my listening pleasure, I have an album of remixed Beastie Boys acapellas from Barzin (get the download free at Bandcamp and buy the CD for a pound, it's awesome). There's some new stuff from Nada Surf, Gem Club and a band I've only just met, First Aid Kit. From one of my favourite bands, Dolorean, I have an album of acoustic demos. There's some Belle & Sebastian because it's been ages; some Lil' Kim; a Dylan protest era classic; Bon Iver's debut and to round it all out Concrete Blonde's moody Walking In London.
Check it out:
Another short week at work next week, with the Australia Day public holiday coming up on Thursday. That's okay though, because the week I just had was extra long. Never mind all that now though, it's on to the music.
For my listening pleasure, I have an album of remixed Beastie Boys acapellas from Barzin (get the download free at Bandcamp and buy the CD for a pound, it's awesome). There's some new stuff from Nada Surf, Gem Club and a band I've only just met, First Aid Kit. From one of my favourite bands, Dolorean, I have an album of acoustic demos. There's some Belle & Sebastian because it's been ages; some Lil' Kim; a Dylan protest era classic; Bon Iver's debut and to round it all out Concrete Blonde's moody Walking In London.
Check it out:
- Gem Club - Breakers
- Nada Surf - The Stars Are Indifferent To Astronomy
- First Aid Kit - The Lion's Roar
- Dolorean - Sketches For Portraits
- Bob Dylan - The Times They Are a-Changin'
- Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
- Lil' Kim - La Bella Mafia
- Concrete Blonde - Walking In London
- Belle & Sebastian - Write About Love
- Barzin - The Barzin Sound From Way Out
Top Five Artists Last Week
- Camera Obscura
- Cream
- Boy and Bear
- Tom McRae
- Jay-Z
You all know me well enough that you might have guessed from my love of all things Iggy Pop, Lou Reed, New York, the 60s and 70s, Dylan and rock n roll, that I would dig on The Velvet Underground. I just this week picked up a copy of Loaded, the band’s first release after they broke up (on which Lou Reed had no say). There is a deluxe version available with some alternate versions of songs and some bonus tracks etc, but I got the original Loaded.
The song from Loaded I’m choosing today is Sweet Jane. I’m sure you all know it well. I was thinking about it this morning before work and it occurred to me that in rock n roll culture, there are a cache of songs that are like staples in a diet. Whether it’s Hey Jude, Like a Rolling Stone, Satisfaction, Space Oddity or even Creep, some songs are just must hears. Sweet Jane is to me in that same company. If the entire world of pop culture was an art gallery, and songs just pieces of art hung on the wall, Sweet Jane would be in the main gallery for all to see; but kept locked in an impenetrable glass case with a bunch of other super important songs.
As to what the song is about, well who knows. Some people say drugs and a transvestite called Jack. Mostly I think it’s about life choices and the difference between living the life of a rock n roll star and the 9 – 5 workaday schlub and how both choices are valid and neither should envy or judge the other.
Enjoy it anyway. It’s a great song and it should serve you well on a Friday.
The song from Loaded I’m choosing today is Sweet Jane. I’m sure you all know it well. I was thinking about it this morning before work and it occurred to me that in rock n roll culture, there are a cache of songs that are like staples in a diet. Whether it’s Hey Jude, Like a Rolling Stone, Satisfaction, Space Oddity or even Creep, some songs are just must hears. Sweet Jane is to me in that same company. If the entire world of pop culture was an art gallery, and songs just pieces of art hung on the wall, Sweet Jane would be in the main gallery for all to see; but kept locked in an impenetrable glass case with a bunch of other super important songs.
As to what the song is about, well who knows. Some people say drugs and a transvestite called Jack. Mostly I think it’s about life choices and the difference between living the life of a rock n roll star and the 9 – 5 workaday schlub and how both choices are valid and neither should envy or judge the other.
Enjoy it anyway. It’s a great song and it should serve you well on a Friday.
Happy Invasion Day
Look, kids, I don't want to get all preachy or anything and ruin your public holiday, but the fact remains that the 26th of January marks a contentious date in Australian history. It has got to be a huge slap in the face to Aboriginal Australia when we're celebrating the day that Cook came, declared the place Terra Nullis and claimed their home. It would be like, say, me having to celebrate an "AFL Day"on the anniversary of the Dockers inaugruation - except a million times worse.
All I'm saying is it couldn't hurt and only help to move the date. Let's pick something with no significance. Something in Summer, when the car parks are melting thongs and the beers are ice cold. Cliche it might be, but it's a hell of a lot more "Australian" than some English ponce sticking a flag in our beautiful dirt.
And this Invasion Day, remember;
"For those who've come across the sea,
We've boundless plains to share.
With courage let us all combine,
To Advance Australia fair."
So stfu Abbott.
All I'm saying is it couldn't hurt and only help to move the date. Let's pick something with no significance. Something in Summer, when the car parks are melting thongs and the beers are ice cold. Cliche it might be, but it's a hell of a lot more "Australian" than some English ponce sticking a flag in our beautiful dirt.
And this Invasion Day, remember;
"For those who've come across the sea,
We've boundless plains to share.
With courage let us all combine,
To Advance Australia fair."
So stfu Abbott.
Arrivederci.
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