i made a great playlist last night. its got both old and new stuff, bands that i want to share with everyone, and bands that i’m sort of a little bit kind of well… embarrassed to say i love. ha. i thought i’d share it with you. let me know what you think at vjkim@mtvu.com
The Arcade Fire - Coldwind (this is one of those bands that everyone thought it was the ‘coolest’ to like, but then they blew up a bit, and people tend to mutter it under their breaths or have a sarcastic tone when they say they like ‘em. i am coming clean and saying that i’ve loved them forever and i love them still. Coldwind is one of their lesser known tracks. but fantastic. if you listen to it at first and don’t love it, just wait until there’s a break in the song, then a pause, and then the whole band chiming in with ‘yeah yeah yeah’ or ‘hey hey hey’, whatever it is… it’s beautiful. i’m always a sucker for songs that have a tiny element that is just unbelievably beautiful, even if it lasts for two seconds. a good example of that is in Belle And Sebastian’s “Sleep the Clock Around”. There is this one harmony, when they say, ‘there’s a lot to be done while your head is still young’, that gets me every time.)
Margo Guryan - Sunday Morning (one of the most beautiful songs i’ve ever heard. Margo Guryan is a rare discovery — a songwriter and arranger with amazing vocal talent who had a brief - but nonetheless significant - impact on pop music. Her songs were recorded by Mama Cass, Bobbie Gentrie and Glen Campbell, Astrud Gilberto, Julie London, Jackie DeShannon, Carmen McCrae, The Lennon Sisters, and Claudine Longet. Her 1968 album “Take a Picture” had limited success, but has a very intense cult-ish following… She is wonderfully talented and ground breaking. She’s not one to miss.)
Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazelwood - Some Velvet Morning (this song has been covered by a variety of new artists including Primal Scream featuring Kate Moss (yes you heard me right) - they do an awesome cover. Anyway, check out both the original and its covers. the song has incredible tempo changes and beautiful subtle sounds that make it one of my favorite recordings ever.
Humpe Humpe - You Didn’t Want Me When You Had Me (a fantastic electro pop band that is so underrated and overlooked its crazy. This song is fabulously tragic and the vocals are extraordinary.)
The Walkmen- We’ve Been Had (this song came out a while ago, but still gets me. The piano plus the sound of Hamilton Leithauser’s voice is a combo that you just have to listen to.)
Fontella bass- Rescue Me (i mean… self explanatory)
Shocking Blue- Send Me A Postcard (some of the first great music that came from Sweden. The vocals are so addictive). It sounds like a Swedish adaptation of the 80s band Heart.
Evermore - It’s Too Late (I’m not that into this band as a whole, but this song is gorgeous, definitely worth checking out).
Fischerspooner- Cloud (the best song i think fischerspooner has written since ‘emerge’)
Delfonics- Ready or Not Here I Come (a must-know original)
Felix da Housecat- Ready 2 Wear (quite possibly my favorite song right now)
The Knife- Lasagna (my most recent obsession of theirs)
Interpol - Leif Erikson (the saddest song ever written?) - Which reminds me, I miss listening to the Magnetic Fields. I gotta get back there.
Joanna Newsom - Peach, Plum, Pear (perhaps she’s a bit of an acquired taste… but once you get into her, theres no turning back from her haunted vocals and crazy organ utilizations)
Spoon- Paper Tiger (this band gets a lot of sh*t talk bc they’ve gotten so big in some annoying scenes - but some of their music is really unique and incredible. The sound and keyboard work in the song are pretty damn good.)
Whitney Houston - How Will I Know (her best. and a song i will forever be obsessed with… i mean, seriously. so gooooooooood)
Sophie Ellis Bextor - Murder On The Dancefloor (am i embarrassed? whatever. its so good)
X-Ray Spex - Germ Free Adolescents (came out six years ago i think. so weird. amazing).
Jose Gonzalez- Crosses (though i’m still mad at this guy for covering the Knife’s Heartbeats and not doing it justice, his track “Crosses” is beautiful).
ok thats it for now. i could go on forever… i have to stop. till next time…. -Kim
