The Soundtrack To My Life. 07/03/2015.

Record: Girls In Peacetime Want To Dance.
Year: 2015.
Artist: Belle And Sebastian.

Belle And Sebastian’s best record in some time, if you ask me. I was pretty surprised and impressed to find a Euro-Disco track in the middle of the album but yep, that’s just what they’ve done. Suits them too…

Record: A Mighty Wind (OST).
Year: 2003.
Artist: Various.

I’d never seen this film until recently. LOVED IT! Loved ALL the songs in it! Especially this one…

Record: Dracula’s Deuce.
Year: 1964.
Artist: The Ghouls.

I went looking specifically to find some sort of Horror themed Surf music and found ‘Dracula’s Deuce’ by The Ghouls. It’s exactly what I was after! Imagine an entire album of tracks by a band that sound like early Beach Boys meets early Chuck Berry where every song sounds a bit like ‘The Monster Mash’? EXACTLY what I was looking for…

Record: Foundations Of Burden.
Year: 2014.
Artist: Pallbearer.

I found Pallbearer through Pitchfork. I never read Pitchfork reviews but they seem to keep a better eye out for new bands than I do so I occasionally drop by there to see if anything catches my eye and the artwork to Foundations Of Burden did just that.

I liked this band just fine. I think they’re musically interesting. I think they have a good sound. I think they can be hard and rough when they want to and gentle and melodic when they try. But the only thing is that Black Sabbath did all of this years ago.

Record: Shadows In The Night.
Year: 2015.
Artist: Bob Dylan.

For the first time in YEARS, Dylan has made a record that does almost zero for me. What we have here is a collection of Sinatra songs that have been covered hundreds of times before by various artists and that’s kind of my problem with it.

Dylan says that they’ve been covered so many times that these songs have almost been buried. I think he was aiming to put a bit of life back into these songs and I love that he recorded them all live but for me personally, Dylan doesn’t add anything to the likes of ‘What’ll I Do’ for me. But then again, nobody could add anything to that song for me. Not since I first heard Harry’s version…

Record: It’s A Big World Out There (And I Am Scared).
Year: 2013.
Artist: Kurt Vile And The Violators.

Kurt Vile. That name stood out to me in a Reddit forum thingy in which Tom Waits fans were recommending music to each other so I got this album. I don’t see why so many fans of Tom Waits’ music recommended Kurt Vile. I thought it was all a bit bland but I like this track…

Record: Hide.
Year: 2013.
Artist: The Bloody Beetroots.

I got a hold of this record solely because I heard and liked the name, The Bloody Beetroots. I dunno what I was expecting. That’s the fun of going in blind like that. This was the only track I liked from the record…

Record: Dawn Of The Dead (OST).
Year: 1987.
Artist: Goblin.

I’m a sucker for soundtracks and I like to listen to Horror soundtracks especially when I can’t sleep and wander around Glasgow. But y’know, Goblin’s music for “Dawn Of The Dead” doesn’t really do anything for me on its own without the film. I dunno why because I really like the soundtrack! It just doesn’t work for me on its own without the film…

Record: EP.
Year: 2005.
Artist: The Fiery Furnaces.

I’ve liked The Fiery Furnaces ever since I heard their ‘Bitter Tea‘ record years ago…

Record: Harry.
Year: 1969.
Artist: Harry Nilsson.

I’ve always had lots of time for Harry Nilsson and last week I found this record in Glasgow for £2.00. A Canadian Import seemingly. It has Nilsson’s great cover of The Beatles’ ‘Mother Nature’s Son’ on it…

Record: Fox Confessor Brings The Flood.
Year: 2006.
Artist: Neko Case.

When Andrea recommended the soundtrack and film, “A Mighty Wind”, she also hit me with hundreds of other artists and albums she thought I may like and I’m working my way through those at the moment. I was glad to be introduced to Neko Case and this ‘Fox Confessor Brings The Flood’ album. I don’t like the album cover and so I bet I’ve passed this by when I’ve been record hunting. Anyway, I’m glad I found it eventually because it’s a brilliant record and really well produced too! So far, this is my favourite track from it…

You May Also Be Interested In…
* The Soundtrack To My Life. 07/01/2015
* The Soundtrack To My Life. 09/04/2014
* The Soundtrack To My Life. 14/02/2014

The Soundtrack To My Life. 09/04/2014.

Record: “Werewolves On Wheels” (OST).
Year: 1971.
Artist: Don Gere.

I discovered this music and then later, the film, through Rob Zombie. I think ol’ Rob gets a lot of inspiration from “Werewolves On Wheels”. As a film, it didn’t really do a lot for me because I was expecting lots of Werewolves. On wheels! And well, there’s not a lot of that but the soundtrack is great!

Listen To This…

Record: “Blatantly Offenzive”.
Year: 1978.
Artist: Wayne County & The Electric Chairs.

I have no idea how I found out about this band.

Listen To This…

Record: “At Home”.
Year: 1969.
Artist: Shocking Blue.

Shocking Blue. I definitely discovered these folk through Nirvana’s cover of ‘Love Buzz’ on their album, ‘Bleach’. Apparently, Shocking Blue didn’t care much for that cover version.

Listen To This…

Record: “In Heaven”.
Year: 1981.
Artist: The Meteors.
Listen To This…

Record: ‘Perfect From Now On’.
Year: 1997.
Artist: Built To Spill.

A pal of mine recommended Built To Spill for me when i mentioned that I was on the lookout for bands that sounded like Grandaddy.

Listen To This…

Record: ‘The Stray Cats’.
Year: 1981.
Artist: The Stray Cats.
Listen To This…

Record: ‘Mozart’s Requiem, K626’.
Year: 1992?
Artist: Sir George Solti & The Wiener Philharoniker Orchestra.
Listen To This…

Record: “Back In the Game”.
Year: 2011.
Artist: Satan & Adam.

Satan & Adam. I fucking love these guys! I only got into them last year or so. I’d never heard of them before! Except, I actually had! I just didn’t know it. You know that clip in U2’s movie, “Rattle & Hum”, of the two guys jamming out on the street as U2 walk past? Yep. That’s Satan & Adam!

And Here It Is…

Record: ‘Big River’ (7″ Vinyl Single).
Year: 2010.
Artist: Secret Sisters (Featuring Jack White)

On my continuing and endless search for new music, I found myself delving into the signed artists on Jack White’s Third Man Records label. I love Pokey LaFarge, The Black Belles and Beck etc… so that seemed like a good way to find new music. That’s how I found the Secret Sisters. They sound a bit like The Chordettes to me.

Listen To This… Soundcloud Link HERE.

Record: ‘Ocean Floor’ (7″ Vinyl Single).
Year: 2010.
Artist: Hell Beach.
Listen To This…

Record: “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath”.
Year: 1973.
Artist: Black Sabbath.
Listen To This…

Record: ‘The Bootleg Series Vol. 10. Another Self Portrait (1969-1971). (Deluxe Edition).
Year: 2013.
Artist: Bob Dylan.

A lotta of Dylan fans don’t like his ‘Self Portrait’ album very much. As a matter of fact, a lot that I’ve spoken to don’t like his ‘Nashville Skyline’ album much either. I think those folk are nuts. I’ve ALWAYS loved that period!
‘I Threw It All Away’? Loved it. ‘Country Pie’? Loved it. ‘All The Tired Horses’? Love it. ‘Alberta’? Love it. ‘Days Of ’49’? I fucking love it. I fucking love it all, understand?

This latest Bootleg Series album is a MUST as far as I’m concerned and if you go for the ‘Deluxe’ version, you’ll get the previously hard to find 1969 Isle Of Wight Concert Bob did with The Band.

A Preview…

You May Also Be Interested In…
* The Soundtrack Of My Life. 14/02/2014.
* The Soundtrack Of My Life. 09/01/2014.
* The Soundtrack Of My Life. 08/05/2013.

The Soundtrack To My Life. 21/09/2012.

ELEPHANT (Single). (2012).
Artist: Tame Impala.
Why You Should Get It… From their forth coming album LONERISM…

THE VERY BEST OF THE COASTERS. (1994).
Artist: The Coasters.
Why You Should Get It…

TEMPEST. (2012).
Artist: Bob Dylan.
Why You Should Get It…

THE WASHINGTON SQUARES. (1987).
Artist: The Washiongton Squares.
Why You Should Get It…

Recommended to me recently by a bartender pal and described as: “Like Peter, Paul & Mary except, good!”

SING TO GOD (Parts I & II). (1995).
Artist: Cardiacs.
Why You Should Get It…

You May Also Be Interested In…
* The Soundtrack To My Life. 16/08/2012.
* The Soundtrack To My Life. 07/06/2012.
* The Soundtrack To My Life. 03/07/2012.

The Soundtrack To My Life. 09/07/2011.

I’ve listened to a lot of albums this week and this is me recommending them all to you.

Phil Phillips’ “Sea Of Love” (2008 ):

The Complete Soundtrack to “Stand By Me” (1986 ):

Steve Martin & The Steep Canyon Rangers: “Rare Bird Alert” (2011):

Gavin Bryars: “The Sinking Of The Titanic” (2009):

Leonard Cohen: “The Future” (1992):

Fucked Up: “The Chemistry Of Common Life” (2008):

“Death Proof” (OST) – “Stuntman Mike’s Mix” (2007):

If I’m listening to anything at night, it’s usually a radio show or something old or something spooky.
This week it was all three in the form of “An Evening With Boris Karloff And His Friends” (2011):

Musically, I’ve had a pretty good week.
I also listened to The Arctic Monkeys’ latest album “Suck It And See” but frankly (And I like The Arctic Monkeys), it bored the arse off me and that’s as much of a mention as I’m gonna give it on here.

My favourite music comes from the 50’s and I always have some old records at hand just incase modern music decides to completely disappear all the way up it’s own backside. That said, “The Chemistry Of Common Life” marks the first I’ve heard from Fucked Up. Good name for a band that eh?
I liked it enough and although they don’t sound as fucked up as I thought they would (Iggy Pop), I think I’m probably gonna buy their latest.

Have fun if you track down any of these recommendations and let me know how you get on.

P.S. I only ever had bootleg copy of that Boris Karloff record which was full of static and crackles but it’s been re-released and you can now buy it from Amazon for a few clams.