Top 10 songs of the past week

Should have posted this up yesterday, but I didn't. My bad. Here is my top 10 for the week ending 16 November 2008.

10) Womanizer by Britney Spears

Woma-woma-woma-nizer, y'all!

9) Hot N Cold by Katy Perry

I haven't decided that I suddenly like Katy Perry. But this song is undoubtedly good, and I kept telling myself that 45% was written by Dr Luke, 45% by Max Martin and 10% by Katy Perry. That makes me feel better.

8) Let It Rock by Kevin Rudolf

Move over, Timbaland.

7) Brass In Pocket by The Pretenders

Something made me think about Lost In Translation, which made me think about Scarlett Johansson singing. Which made me shuffle through my record collection for some private time with Chrissie Hynde.

6) Cuffs by Zeigeist

Lovely electro stuff.

5) Pass This On by The Knife

Listening to Ziegeist reminded me how much I love The Knife. Which is A LOT.

4) Zombie by The Cranberries

There's something about the vocal quirks of Diana Vickers on X Factor remind me of Dolores O'Riordan. Except Diana makes more whistles and clicks. Hopefully, Simon Cowell will organise a Star Wars themed week in which she can perform as R2D2. I'm not going to pretend I'm too cool to have seen the X Factor, because any time you catch a glimpse of ITV2 it's being repeated. That, or Katie and Peter: The Next Chapter.

3) Sleepyhead by Passion Pit

I [heart] Passion Pit.

2) Dream On by Christian Falk featuring Robyn

This has been floating around for ages, but it's still wonderful. I just hope Robyn gets into the studio and starts working on a new album pronto.

1) Love Kills (demo) by Little Boots

Him out of Hot Chip + the former singer of Dead Disco + a Micro Korg= wonderful things. Love Kills is a cover of a Giorgio Moroder/Freddie Mercury song, FYI.

Top 10 songs of the week

I should have told you this on Sunday, in the tradition of charts, but I'm a busy woman. Oh well. Let's go!

10. Mr Pharmacist by The Fall
Dave Simpson's new book The Fallen is out now. I might buy it when it's out in paperback, because I'm cheap like that. (It's £18.99 in hardback. That's a lot of pounds to read about The Fall.)
9. Look Back Jacques by The Arch Nazards
The Arch Nazards is my chum Adrian Flanagan, who was briefly a member of The Fall.
8. Up by The Saturdays
There's something I don't like about this whole Saturdays thing, but I haven't decided what the thing is yet. I'll get back to you.
7. Too Fake by Hockey
I'm not just saying this is good because Paul Lester put them on his New Band of the Day blog, ok? It's as if The Rapture and LCD Soundsystem moved to Oregon.
6. My Delirium by Ladyhawke
She is very good, you know.
5. The Promise by Girls Aloud
I'm coming around to the idea.
4. This Bird by Solange
The album's been out for a while, but I forgot about it. This is the album closer, in which Solange-younger-sister-of-Beyonce warbles over a Boards of Canada track.
3. Halfway Home by TV On The Radio
TVOTR (see, I'm a fan) are one of my favourite bands. And now they've got a new album. And they're touring. It's almost too exciting for me, so I've had to ration out listens to this in case I start running around like a hyperactive child.
2. Black by thecocknbullkid
A new song from the Londoner, and she's turning into a proper popstar. This one has bass and a Gameboy-core ending.
1. Embrace by PNAU
My friend spent an evening in the pub telling me how amazing this track is, and getting me to repeat the spelling (p, n, a, u!) so I'd remember to listen at home. Well, I did, and he was right. They're from Sydney, and the vocals are by the lovely Ladyhawke. In celebration of their achievement at hitting number 1 in my arbitrary chart, here's a picture:


Photo by Cybele Malinowski.

Tunes of the week

Another week, another opportunity for me to compile a top ten list. Here are songs that I've been in playing during the past week:

10 Overdosin' by Heidi Montag
This is absolute crap. I've never even watched 'The Hills'! Honest. I don't even know what it's doing here. Probably because laughing at it makes me feel better about myself.
9 Toy Boy (Extra Muscle Mix) by Sinitta
It's actually by Stock, Aitken and Waterman, and this remix does have some extra muscle (well, extra bass). The sleeve promises 'Today's sound. Tomorrow's technology'. Surely the other way round would be better?
8 Feel The Love by Cut Copy
Unofficially, I've decided this is my favourite song of 2008. Other songs will emerge, but it will take a lot to displace this from the top of my chart. I suppose I should put it at number one every week, but that would get a bit boring.
7 My DNA by Manda Rin
New single from the ex-Bis lovely, but not that much of a new direction. I was a bit disappointed to see on her MySpace that she considers her influences to be New Young Pony Club, Blood Red Shoes and Late of the Pier. Surely it should be the other way around?
6 Breaking It Up by Lykke Li
Still releasing singles from 'Youth Novels'. And they're still wonderful.
5 Gamma Ray by Beck
When I listened to 'Modern Guilt' I was relieved to discover that Beck's still got it. What it is, I'm not sure, but I doubt he knows either.
4 Do The Strand by Roxy Music
The best Roxy Music song. Apart from Virginia Plain. Maybe.
3 Mercury by Bloc Party
Bloc Party managed to take me by surprise with their digital-only rush release of 'Intimacy'. Me and Bloc Party have not always been compatible (it's some of the lyrics look like bad poetry to me). But I was obviously wrong, and now we're going to be best friends. Mercury is amazing. Really and truly.
2 Dusk Til Dawn by Ladyhawke
Wonderful pop. If you're not paying attention, she does sound a little bit like Mira/Helen from Ladytron. Plus there's a Casio VL-Tone squealing in the background, and Casio VL-Tones are ALWAYS a good thing.
1 Jump in the Pool by Friendly Fires
Eeep! Can't wait for the album, or the tour. It's a bit like Cut Copy, a bit like Klaxons. For so long I wanted MORE COWBELL. And here it is. Well done, St Albans' finest. (Apart from Stephen Hawking, Francis Bacon and Michael Morpugo.)
Well, this post looks a bit boring without a picture. So here's one of Friendly Fires larking about:

My life in songs

I've been in Edinburgh, for the festival. Of course! If you don't do the fringe, you're a nobody. In the art world. Here is some grafitti I saw outside a pub:

Here's my favourite songs of the past week. Because I don't have an iPod or Last FM account to document what I've been listening to, this list is fairly arbitrary. But it is compiled with love. Love!
10 So What by Pink
I liked it last week, and just as my interest began to wane, the video popped up all over the internets.
9 5 Years Time by Noah and the Whale
I tried to resist this twee little tune, but it managed to snare me.
8 The World Should Revolve Around Me by Little Jackie
Good song. Selfish sentiment.
7 Spiralling by Keane
That song they wrote Gwen Stefani was good. And this new single is even better. What's happening to me? Am I becoming the sort of person who takes a collapsible chair to gigs?
6 Into The Galaxy by Midnight Juggernauts
Better than Damon Albarn's contribution to the BBC's Olympic coverage.
5 Daddy's Gone by Glasvegas
They're even better than Jesus and Mary Chain.
4 Just Like Honey by Jesus and Mary Chain
Wait, not quite.
3 Red and Purple by The Dodos
Discovered this during a MySpace trawl. You'll like it, I promise.
2 Sleepyhead by Passion Pit
When my friend told me in the pub that I should listen to Passion Pit because they are VERY GOOD, I thought it was just one of those things you say in the pub. Then I listened to their MySpace songs, and discovered they really are very good.
1 Progulka by Zemfira
Zemfira is a post-Soviet pop icon. My boyfriend lived in Russia for a while, and tells me that Zemfira's popularity is of Dima Bilan proportions. Compared to more familiar pop princesses, she is startling. She doesn't talk about her private life, barely smiles and is self-consciously androgynous. Like Annie Lennox or KD Lang, but able to shift a million more units. She even found time between being a pop superstar to study for a philosophy degree at Moscow University. Progulka (translation: 'Walk', from her 2005 album Vendetta) is an incredible song. Unfortunately for Zemfira, it's the only Zemfira song I like. Her sixth album is imminent, so maybe I'll enjoy that. I can't even describe how excited it makes me... video is here. Make your own mind up.

Weekending in Somerset

I spent the weekend at a wedding in Somerset, and I think a good time was had by all. I had a good time, at least. Due to a lack of funds and available rooms, I camped behind a pub that was also hosting a beer festival. The Wurzels were headlining, and the real ale was flowing.
I also thought you might like to know my top ten tunes from last week:
10. My Drive Thru by NERD, Santogold and Julian Casablancas
Hipster trio take the money and run. It's basically an advert for Converse, and sounds like a less good Beck, Prince and MIA.
9. When I Grow Up by the Pussycat Dolls
I can't decide whether I despise this or rather like it.
8. Last Train to Transcentral by the KLF
For some reason I NEEDED to listen to the KLF, so went back to the future (1990) for one of their less loved "other" singles.
7. Reinforcements by Sparks
I've been flicking through my vinyl a lot, and re-discovered this camp pop gem.
6. The Things That Dreams Are Made Of by The Human League
Re-discovered from another vinyl flick.
5. Come Into My World by Kylie Minogue
X doesn't do it for me. Sorry, Kylie. But this is amazing. Especially the Michel Gondry video.
4. Over the Ice by The Field
After watching The Field at Field Day last weekend, I re-discovered this track. It's like Steve Reich goes commercial.
3. ICA Lappis by Action Biker
I've said it before - absolutely lovely.
2. So What by Pink
New single, which leaked early and rapidly around the internets. And it's brilliant. Pink's been responsible for some utter crap (God is a DJ etc) but this divorce kiss-off is utterly brilliant.
1. Wuthering Heights by Kate Bush
Ended up here through a daisy chain because The Field sampled Kate's Cloudbusting. (I love Kate Bush so much that we're on first name terms.) Spent a bit of time comparing the original Wuthering Heights vocal with the re-recorded one, and generally thinking "argh, this is amazing! And she was only 19! Take that, Adele/Kate Nash!"

And, for a post-script, here are some wedding snaps: