My Monday List – November 29, 2010

Following up my previous posting, I’m going to list/write/whatever about five to ten songs I have heard during the day that moved me in some way, whether I thought the song was thought-provoking or just cool. While I’ll probably hear more stuff later on today, the list below is the up-to-date songs that I liked.

• Sigur Ros, “Viðrar vel til loftárása”: While I have heard stuff from Sigur Ros before, I never really knew the songs or much about them. This one from Ágætis byrjun was one of my favorites. I liked how the band created this sonic gothic collage from their instruments as well as the orchestra supporting them. Since I don’t speak Icelandic, I’ll have to google the lyrics (translated) to figure out what he’s saying.
• Paul Weller, “Aim High”: The sound on this record (Wake Up the Nation) is just cool as hell to me. Some soul music plus pop punk plus new wave that Weller has been doling out for years now. The lyrics are solid, but it’s really just the feel for me.
• Sleigh Bells, “Tell ‘Em”: I’ve heard their tunes for the past year now, and this is their first single. I still like it a year later. I love that really heavy distorted sound at the beginning. Scanning the lyrics, this is a pretty dark song (assuming I’ve read the right ones). Almost a high school Trainspotting moment.
• Gossip, “Yr Mangled Heart”: I didn’t get into Gossip until I heard “Heavy Cross” a year or so ago. That album wasn’t as fun as Standing in the Way of Control, which had a more garage punk sound with this really big voice. Beth Ditto can sing.
• B.B. King, “Sweet Little Angel”: This from the Live at the Regal record proves the control B.B. has over a crowd. This whole record just blows me away and is a must-listen for blues fans. I’d really approve it for anyone that just likes music, because he really commands the band and the crowd with his guitar playing and his voice.
• Arctic Monkeys, “Crying Lightning”: I love this song! But I have one quibble with this song and record—it’s just not them. I love Josh Homme and the Queens of the Stone Age (and the other bands), but bringing his stoner desert rock to a British pop punk outfit doesn’t seem to fit. I liked them (for the most part) as they were.

Like I said, I’ll probably hear something later on today, and if I still have it in my head after I post this, I’ll bring it up tomorrow (or whenever I decide to write again). By the way, check out Paul Weller’s Wake Up the Nation album. It is just a fun record to listen to.