Friday 11 February 2011

Something for the Lovers...

With Valentines day on Monday this weeks weekly feature takes a look in a different direction from the traditional sloppy love songs of the usual! Forget Barry White, Sade and Marvin Gaye this time and Say F*CK YOU to Brian Adams, Celine Dion and Chris de Burgh! This is the alternative version...

Something Old...
Not so much 'alternative' but yet adored by the true music lover...you cant ignore this song as the ultimate feel good song for when your truely head over heels! New Yorker's (Daryl) Hall & (John) Oates had a bagful of hit singles and you can never deny their music ability, putting handle bar moustaches into white boy soul! With tracks such as 'Maneater' (not the same song as the Nelly Fuerto version ofcourse!) and 'Out of Touch' which sadly, most people will more likely recognize from the 2004 dance cover by 'Uniting Nations' *urgh!* 

For me, its the song 'You make my dreams come true' that ALWAYS makes me smile. Written in 1980 and strangley only ever reached a chart peak at No.5. Since its release its been featured in many a romcom, most nostebaly Adam Sandler's 'Wedding Singer' and a hilarious scene from '(500) Days of Summer. The later, if you havn't already seen it is a really cool movie and definately worth a watch over Valentines. Starring Jospeh Gordon-Levitt who plays a geeky no hoper music fanatic who falls in love with the Beautiful, Uba cool, music loving Zooey Deschanel...the vid below features the song taken from the movie...

Something New...
The Black Keys are right up there in my top 5 favourite artists list...otherwise known as lead vocals/guitar Dan Auerbach and drummer/producer Patrick Carney they have to be the greatest and most talented two piece band of all time! Emerging with a sound akin to any 5 piece blues/rock band with 'The Big Come Up' in 2002. Closely followed the awesome albums 'Thickfreakness' in 03 and 'Rubber Factory' in 04 which is what put the band amongst my 'favourite artists of all time list' on these alone due to singles such as 'Set you Free', 'Have Love will Travel' and '10AM Automatic'. Not to mention, my personal favourite BK album... 'Magic potion' from 06 and their biggest commercial  success of 'Attack&Release' in 08, featuring singles such as 'Your touch' and 'Strange Times' respectively.

The track 'Howlin' for you' maybe from last years album 'Brothers', which contains 'Next Girl', However, the video for Howlin'...OH THE VIDEO is litterally brand spanking new as of hours ago! The video is, in my opinion, as of NOW the coolest video of all time. Starring Tricia Helfer as a sexy assasin hell bent on revenge in a fake movie trailer for a cheesy, violent, awesomely cool Tarrantino/Robert Rodriguez-esque madness WATCH IT NOW!!!

Something Borrowed...
2010 Mercury Award winners the 'XX' need no introductions. The London based band are now a three piece since keyboardist Bari Qureshi left due to the 'pressures of fame' and exhaustion of touring. The band shot to fame both commercially and critically with the self titled albums and the awesome singles from the album 'Crystalised', 'Islands' and 'VCR. 
The track selected as this weeks cover version can be found on the bonus disc of the award winning album and is a beautifully haunting interpretation of the Womack&Womack single, making love to your ears since 1988, I dedicate this song to my better half Kate Redmond...

Something Blue...
The band 'Death Cab for Cutie' are a very misenterpretted band, shunning the limelight they are often branding in the 'emo' by many a shoegazer. However, with 5 albums and another on its way later this year they definately deserve a little more respect than to band em in the same catergory as 'Dishwasher Confessional' and 'My Biological Bromance'. *RANDOM FACT OF THE DAY ALERT* Lead singer, Ben Gibbard is married to musician and actress - '(500) days of Summer', 'Elf' and 'Hitchhikers guide...' star Zooey Deschennel.

The track 'I Will posses your Heart' is apparently written about Gibbard's stalkerish approach to his courtship with Deschennel. The song narrowly missed out on the 2009 Grammy for best alternative rock song, loosing out only to the Boss aka Bruce Springstein's 'Girl's in their Summer Clothes'. Taken from the last album 'Narrow Stairs' Deathcab's use of slick and innovative piano riff over a sweet bassline makes this truely epic, well worth a listen... 

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