Christmas CD

No. 1 - Newport State Of Mind - Alex & Terema.
This song is amazing. Its a cracking cover of Empire State Of Mind and it managed to be such a hit that it was banned from U-Tube. Excellent.

No. 2 - I Still Believe - Frank Turner.
You just have to listen to this song to fall in love with it. It is amazing.

No. 3 - Wonderlust King - Gogol Bordello. This song is awesome. I first heard this song after I found out that I had got tickets for the Rage Against The Machine. Gogol Bordello were playing with Rage, and so I had to listen to their music. Crazy Eastern European Gypsies.

No. 4 - She Said - Plan B.
Holy crap. This is a fucking brilliant song. 'Nuff said.

No. 5 - Wash Your Face In My Sink - Dream Warriors. This song reminds me of being a teenager. It reminds of a time when I had a set of unloseable friends. Not sure what happened to a lot of those.

No. 6 - Pack Up - Eliza Doolittle.
This is a simple feel good, don't worry about what other people think kind of a song. Its got a nice olde fashioned-e vibe and a cute girl. What more do you need?

No. 7 - You've Got The Love - Florence & The Machine.
Cracking cover of Candi Staton song. Always makes me sing along in the car which is cool. Unless you are in the car with me, in which case its very, very bad.

No. 8 - In The Year 2525 - Zager & Evans.
I remember listening to this song when I was a young lad and finding the ideas interesting but finding them all a little unlikely. However listening to it now you can see a rather frightening future that may be just around the corner. Not bad for a song written in the sixties.

No. 9 - Just Me - Match Couple.
This song is fun. A very intelligent advert campaign from Match.com rand realising the power of a catchy tune and after constant requests, finally put the song on their website.

No. 10 - Not Perfect - Tim Minchin.
I don't know what it is about comedians but if they turn their mind to it they seem to be able to write very poignant songs. This is one such example. An interesting song about life and your place in it.

No. 11 - She's Always A Woman - Fyfe Dangerfield.
Another song that has come from an advert, originally a Billy Joel song it is all about a crazy but fascinating woman.

No. 12 - What Can I Do? - Antony And The Johnsons.
I was first introduced to A&TJ by someone who I worked with years ago. My first impression was that they/he/'she' was pretty weird. I then listened to them/he/'she' more extensively and decided that they/he/'she' were/was definitely weird but also pretty damn cool. This is a typically gender confusing but ultimately great song.

No. 13 - The Fear You Wont Fall - Joshua Radin.
Basically every year there is a Joshua Radin song on my Christmas CD. The man is a legend. Amazing music. Amazing, always applicable lyrics. Just plain and simple genius.

No. 14 - Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd.
I have always known this song even if only sub-consciously, but it wasn't until someone murdered it at an open mike night that I decided to have a proper listen. And that is why it is now on this CD.

No. 15 - Spaceboy - Smashing Pumpkins.
This song is almost certainly on a previous Christmas CD of mine. I was introduced to this song by a great housemate of mine back in 1997. I immediately fell in love with it and have listened to it, forgotten about it and re-listened to it ever since.

No. 16 - The Ballard Of Me And My Friends.
Frank Tuner is a LEGEND. I have seen him five times in the last 12 months and every one of his gigs has been exciting but also different. He has a real passion for music, performing and also for his audience which is clear to see.

No. 17 - Highs & Lows - No Room For Growth.
I meet the lead singer of this local band not that long ago through a mutual friend. He is a great guy and although I prefer his acoustic version of this song, there is no denying that its a seriously catchy sing-a-long tune.

No. 18 - Sadako (Blow Up The World) - 3dBs Down.
Awesome band. Awesome song. Both are truly missed round these parts.

No. 19 - Chop Suey - System Of A Down.
I like this song. It is silly, it has some really stupid lyrics and it definitely takes its self too seriously.... But the video is interesting and there is definitely a get up and dance vibe to it.

No. 20 - White Wine In The Sun - Tim Minchin.
Another poignant song by a comedian. This song is all about family and the support and love they give you. It is also about how Christmas is basically no longer about what it should be. This song made me want to drink wine with my family in the garden on Christmas Day! And it reminded me of a few people who were miles away this year.

So there you go. The completely compelling reasons behind my Christmas CD. I imagine you will all sleep a little better tonight knowing now why each epic track found its way onto it.

Lates.

Matt.

Hey

So. Its been one year and four days since I last posted on my blog.

I'm not sure why. I started posted again in December 2009, determined that I would continue to do so. I always have a lot of things on my mind around the Christmas / New Year period so I though that if I got into the habit then I would keep posting throughout the year, but it didn't really work out like that. Still don't really know why, I've some ideas but I'll keep those to myself for now.

Anyway, I've finally managed to write another entry, and as with all the previous ones I'm making it up as I go along. I've been meaning to post for about a month and have had various ideas about what to post, but I've not been feeling it I guess.

However I can tell you that now I have started I will undoubtedly produce a few more posts over the coming weeks and I thought that I'd let you know what they will be about.

First up is the traditional 'Why I stuck the songs I stuck on my Christmas CD' That will be a not entirely interesting post, but if you received a copy, it will hopefully be more enlightening than if you didn't.

After that I'm gonna do some top 5/10 lists including 'top 5 hates' 'top ten movies' 'best songs of the noughties' and 'favourite places on Earth'

After that I have no idea, but I'm sure they will be amazing, or a least mazing, or maybe just azing. You never can tell eh?

But I can tell you are waiting for these with baited breath so I will in all lightly hood disappoint.

That's how I apparently rock and/or roll.

Lates.

Matt.