TOTW48: Mumford & Sons – Winter Winds

The song that’s actually going round my head, the song that I actually want to make TOTW is one I heard a couple of times on one night out, and one that it one of the greatest soft-rock songs ever (possible even better than Kip Winger).

Unfortunately, I don’t really think that I can make Journey a highlight from the cutting edge of music, so instead here’s the latest from the band making folk-style music cool again.

It’s a cracking simple tune, with close-knit harmonies, wide instrumentation, and once again shows broad talents. It probably is better than Journey in any event.

Bubbling Under

Basement Jaxx – My turn

Ellie Goulding – Under the sheets

Doves – House of Mirrors

Pixie Lott – Cry me out

Take That – Hold up a light

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TOTW47: Norah Jones – Chasing Pirates

Bubbling Under

Mumford & Sons – Winter Wind

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1990

Isn’t it nice when a relatively modern Top 5 features some old-style songs, and some newer classics too? Pity about Vanilla Ice though…

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TOTW46: Lily Allen – Who’s have known?

Only really one contender this week, where the chorus is scarily reminiscent of Take That. No idea what the video’s getting at though

Watching telly, drinking wine. Sounds like my life…

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TOTW45: Arctic Monkeys - Cornerstone

This video is either, depending on your view, very original and quite witty; or bloody boring. I’m still undecided. It’s directed by Richard Ayoyade out-of-off-of the IT Crowd, so it’s clearly meant to be funny, and there’s some funny bits – but it could do with a bit of, you know, something.

Still, music is not about how it looks, otherwise John & Edward would have been crowned Extractor X-Factor champions long ago – it’s about the song and the singing. Written about “meeting girls in pubs who remind [Alex Turner] of the one he’s trying to forget” (Uncut magazine), the lyrics manage the first rhyme of toast and ghost since Des’Ree without it sounding even half as cheesy. It’s a soft song, and it paints a story which a lot of songs don’t do.

In essence, the simple video matches the simple song – but it manages to still have tension and a climax. All round good egg then.

 

Bubbling Under

Jamie Cullum – I’m all over it

Athele – Black Swan Song

 

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1979

Let us, together, spare a thought for some rabbits and the biggest selling single of 1979.

To be fair though, it is an exceptionally written song by Mike Batt (much better than the Wombles) - which bewilderingly never got to America's Billboard Top 100.

Also featuring is one of Bob Geldolf's hits (not the one about Rats, but the other one) and a bit of Cliff. Not a bad year all in all though.

Technorati Tags: Art Garfunkel,Blondie,Cliff Richard,The Boomtown Rats,Dr Hook

October Last Chance: Vampire Weekend

Whilst I can't find a video yet, I can find a free download - which is always good.

Nerina Pallot and Jamie Cullum both came very close - but at the end of the idea it's the new "Contra" album that excites me just as much as this single, and I doubt I'd buy either of the other albums, so Vampire Weekend get the last chance!

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TOTW44: Paolo Nutini - Pencil Full of Lead

I've not heard a song anything like this on contemporary radio since Lou Bega (and that's still not quite right). It goes back to an era before even Rock'n'Roll - jazz, dance halls, and the ilk. It's fun. It's catchy. And it's very very different. Really don't get the video though...

Bubbling under

Arctic Monkeys - Cornerstone

Camera Obscura - The Sweetest Thing

Dame Shirley Bassey - Nice Men (Written by K T Tunstall no less)

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