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lokifan, the username music meme. I don't do memes very often and this one looked fun. It took me longer than I thought it would and I'll admit that I had to google 'songs beginning with Q', and for the second 'U' as well, (The Ubiquitous Mr Lovegrove was an easy pick). Though as you can see, I struggled to keep it to one song a letter for some of them. And there's a rather depressing bonus track.
So, without further ado!
Psychonaut, Fields of the Nephilim - Not my favourite of theirs (that would be Elizium it its entirety, which is without any doubt at all my most played album) but still amazing. I've loved them since I was 17. More than a quarter of a century later, I still do. And when they're on form, their live performances are nothing short of a revelation.
Red Right Hand, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - I first heard this on the dance floor at Invocation (still my favourite London goth night even though I haven't been in ages). It's dark and sensual and brutal and wonderful.
The Ubiquitous Mr Lovegrove, Dead Can Dance - Gloomy, sexy, and gorgeous.
A New England, Billy Bragg - Always a high point of his live performances. It's too long since I've seen him live. He hasn't come to Liverpool in 10 years. *pout*
Bonus N
Nothing Ever Happens, Del Amitri - An 80s classic, bleak and beautiful. I don't know anything else by them but I'll always love them for this.
Exhale, Plumb - I don't own much Christian rock but Exhale is certainly the best of the ones I do have and the title track is beautiful. I don't tend to talk about my faith. I'd rather let songs like this say it for me.
San Diego Serenade, Tom Waits - I first heard this as a cover by Nanci Griffith. Her cover is prettier but the original has a tenderness that's hard to beat.
Bonus S
Stúlkan sem starir á hafið, Hera - Hera's English language stuff is rather wonderful too (see below) but this (in her native Icelandic) is just beautiful, even if I don't have the first clue what it's about.
Queen of the Reich, Queensryche - The video for this is hilarious, 80s hair metal at its finest. To be honest, I don't really like the song. I was a huge fan of later Queensryche (especially Operation Mindcrime and Empire) but none of their later songs begins with Q. So frankly this is just here to make up the numbers.
Unbelievable, EMF - Ubiquitous Mr Lovegrove came easily but I really struggled with a second U. EMF were never favourites of mine but Unbelievable certainly brings back memories of the early 90s and my first years in Liverpool. Oh nostalgia.
As Is, Ani Difranco - Ani Difranco is amazing. Nuff said.
Bonus A
Alice's Restaurant, Arlo Guthrie - I first heard this in 1995. I was suffering from pretty bad depression at the time so this gives me conflicting feelings but it's a '60s classic. If you have 20 minutes to spare give it a listen. It's hilarious. As far as I'm aware, Arlo Guthrie is a Republican these days. Woody will be spinning in his grave.
Lucretia My Reflection, Sisters of Mercy - Andrew Eldritch is almost certainly a bit of a dick but Floodland will always have a piece of my heart. (Mind you, First and Last and Always, and Vision Thing, will too).
Love, Ire and Song, Frank Turner "Leave the mourning for the morning, pain can be killed with aspirin tablets and vitamin pills, but memories of hope and glorious defeat are a little bit harder to beat". ♥ ♥ ♥
Bonus L
Lettting the Telephone Ring, Ani Difranco - I did mention that Ani Difranco is amazing, didn't I?
Overwhelmed, Tim McMorris - This is one of the first songs Brie sent me. It speaks for itself, I guess.
Bonus O
Ole 55, Tom Waites - again, I first heard this in a cover version (by Sarah McClaclan). This is all gravel-voiced, whisky-soaked beauty. I don't actually know much Tom Waits but given that the two here are among my favourite songs in the entire world I should probably rectify that.
Reasons to be Cheerful, Part 3, Ian Dury and the Blockheads - Not a band that I heard much of but this and Hit me with your Rhythm Stick bring back so many memories of the early 80s for me, it's scary. He died too young.
My Fidelity, Heather Nova - Her later albums suffer a little from overproduction especially when placed side by side with her debut (Glow Stars). It's heart-breakingly beautiful.
Day of the Century, Seabound - this song is summer for me. I don't know why, it just makes me happy.
(I can't find this online which makes me sad :()
Bonus D
The Drowning Man, The Cure - I had to have at least one Cure song and while this isn't a favourite it ties perfectly in with my username (both being Titus Groan references and all). The song is somewhat spoilery if you haven't read Gormenghast.
Bonus bonus D
Don't Play This, Hera - because I had to include a Hera song in English.
Bonus bonus bonus D
Disappoint, Assemblage - this speaks for itself.
And finally, ones that I couldn't fit in my username but will always appear on any list of songs that I love.
I Will Follow You into the Dark, Death Cab for Cutie - I had this on repeat the day I was told of the suicide of a very close friend. I still can't hear it without thinking of him.
Gypsy, Suzanne Vega - written about a young man from Liverpool whom she met when she was a counselor at summer camp. If I was ever to make a list of my 3 favourite songs this would have to be in it.
Well that was longer than I planned. 25 songs, 27 different performance. I hope you like at least some of them.
( Read more... )
lokifan, the username music meme. I don't do memes very often and this one looked fun. It took me longer than I thought it would and I'll admit that I had to google 'songs beginning with Q', and for the second 'U' as well, (The Ubiquitous Mr Lovegrove was an easy pick). Though as you can see, I struggled to keep it to one song a letter for some of them. And there's a rather depressing bonus track.So, without further ado!
Psychonaut, Fields of the Nephilim - Not my favourite of theirs (that would be Elizium it its entirety, which is without any doubt at all my most played album) but still amazing. I've loved them since I was 17. More than a quarter of a century later, I still do. And when they're on form, their live performances are nothing short of a revelation.
Red Right Hand, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - I first heard this on the dance floor at Invocation (still my favourite London goth night even though I haven't been in ages). It's dark and sensual and brutal and wonderful.
The Ubiquitous Mr Lovegrove, Dead Can Dance - Gloomy, sexy, and gorgeous.
A New England, Billy Bragg - Always a high point of his live performances. It's too long since I've seen him live. He hasn't come to Liverpool in 10 years. *pout*
Bonus N
Nothing Ever Happens, Del Amitri - An 80s classic, bleak and beautiful. I don't know anything else by them but I'll always love them for this.
Exhale, Plumb - I don't own much Christian rock but Exhale is certainly the best of the ones I do have and the title track is beautiful. I don't tend to talk about my faith. I'd rather let songs like this say it for me.
San Diego Serenade, Tom Waits - I first heard this as a cover by Nanci Griffith. Her cover is prettier but the original has a tenderness that's hard to beat.
Bonus S
Stúlkan sem starir á hafið, Hera - Hera's English language stuff is rather wonderful too (see below) but this (in her native Icelandic) is just beautiful, even if I don't have the first clue what it's about.
Queen of the Reich, Queensryche - The video for this is hilarious, 80s hair metal at its finest. To be honest, I don't really like the song. I was a huge fan of later Queensryche (especially Operation Mindcrime and Empire) but none of their later songs begins with Q. So frankly this is just here to make up the numbers.
Unbelievable, EMF - Ubiquitous Mr Lovegrove came easily but I really struggled with a second U. EMF were never favourites of mine but Unbelievable certainly brings back memories of the early 90s and my first years in Liverpool. Oh nostalgia.
As Is, Ani Difranco - Ani Difranco is amazing. Nuff said.
Bonus A
Alice's Restaurant, Arlo Guthrie - I first heard this in 1995. I was suffering from pretty bad depression at the time so this gives me conflicting feelings but it's a '60s classic. If you have 20 minutes to spare give it a listen. It's hilarious. As far as I'm aware, Arlo Guthrie is a Republican these days. Woody will be spinning in his grave.
Lucretia My Reflection, Sisters of Mercy - Andrew Eldritch is almost certainly a bit of a dick but Floodland will always have a piece of my heart. (Mind you, First and Last and Always, and Vision Thing, will too).
Love, Ire and Song, Frank Turner "Leave the mourning for the morning, pain can be killed with aspirin tablets and vitamin pills, but memories of hope and glorious defeat are a little bit harder to beat". ♥ ♥ ♥
Bonus L
Lettting the Telephone Ring, Ani Difranco - I did mention that Ani Difranco is amazing, didn't I?
Overwhelmed, Tim McMorris - This is one of the first songs Brie sent me. It speaks for itself, I guess.
Bonus O
Ole 55, Tom Waites - again, I first heard this in a cover version (by Sarah McClaclan). This is all gravel-voiced, whisky-soaked beauty. I don't actually know much Tom Waits but given that the two here are among my favourite songs in the entire world I should probably rectify that.
Reasons to be Cheerful, Part 3, Ian Dury and the Blockheads - Not a band that I heard much of but this and Hit me with your Rhythm Stick bring back so many memories of the early 80s for me, it's scary. He died too young.
My Fidelity, Heather Nova - Her later albums suffer a little from overproduction especially when placed side by side with her debut (Glow Stars). It's heart-breakingly beautiful.
Day of the Century, Seabound - this song is summer for me. I don't know why, it just makes me happy.
(I can't find this online which makes me sad :()
Bonus D
The Drowning Man, The Cure - I had to have at least one Cure song and while this isn't a favourite it ties perfectly in with my username (both being Titus Groan references and all). The song is somewhat spoilery if you haven't read Gormenghast.
Bonus bonus D
Don't Play This, Hera - because I had to include a Hera song in English.
Bonus bonus bonus D
Disappoint, Assemblage - this speaks for itself.
And finally, ones that I couldn't fit in my username but will always appear on any list of songs that I love.
I Will Follow You into the Dark, Death Cab for Cutie - I had this on repeat the day I was told of the suicide of a very close friend. I still can't hear it without thinking of him.
Gypsy, Suzanne Vega - written about a young man from Liverpool whom she met when she was a counselor at summer camp. If I was ever to make a list of my 3 favourite songs this would have to be in it.
Well that was longer than I planned. 25 songs, 27 different performance. I hope you like at least some of them.
( Read more... )
