Thursday 13 December 2007

Going To California

A lovely, simple, plaintive track from Led Zeppelin IV that didn't make it on to Mothership

Led Zeppelin - Going To California (iTunes)

Thursday 6 December 2007

more Chasing

This time for Gemma Hayes who was Mercury Music Prize-nominated a few years back.

Chasing Dragons is from her forthcoming third album The Hollow of Morning which is short and dark (my kind of album).

It's an "end of relationship" song (as are many of my favourite songs), and for me it's the best thing she's done.

Gemma Hayes - Chasing Dragons (Amazon)

Lisa Hannigan (and Damien Rice)

Joe writes: There is new solo material coming soon from Lisa Hannigan who sang vocals on both the Damien Rice albums but is no longer working with him. I'm really excited about this new material. Damien is possibly my favourite artist of the millennium so far and Lisa could be great on her own.

So here's a seasonal a capella cover from Lisa, and her own version of Cannonball. I've also posted the Billie Holiday version of Don't Explain which Lisa covers, as does Cat Power on her forthcoming covers album.

I really think the second Damien Rice album should have sold better. The record company blame the artist for refusing to allow them to do radio mixes until it was too late. I think they picked the wrong second single in Rootless Tree. Anyway, I suspect in time the album will be recognised as a classic. The first half of the album is one awesome, brutal song after another. My favourite is probably The Animals Were Gone - such a great opening line and title. All the lyrics are great in fact. And it's kind of seasonal.

Lisa Hannigan - Silent Night (iTunes)




Lisa Hannigan - Cannonball (Damien's original version on iTunes)




Billie Holiday - Don't Explain (iTunes)




Damien Rice - The Animals Were Gone (iTunes)

Chasing Pavements and Rainbows

Joe writes: The new Adele single, written with Eg White, is properly great. A cool artist, doing a song that is basically Gabrielle. It's going to be huge.

I keep wanting to call it Chasing Rainbows which is of course Shed Seven's finest moment.

Adele - Chasing Pavements (it's not on iTunes yet and a company called Web Sheriff on behalf of Adele and XL Recordings have asked me not to link to the mp3 - see comments below where there are a couple of links)




Shed Seven - Chasing Rainbows (iTunes)