Love is in the something, something

Yes, yes that witty title will reveal all. But first *bulletin music*

I Heard The News Today, Oh Boy

• Alright, some big news from AMR favourites and Melbourne's best band©, Big Scary, who with a shiny new website, have announced a national tour in support of their Big Scary Four Seasons compilation (which was the third best album of 2010 in this humble writer's opinion). They'll be playing dates across the east coast through March and April. Check the website for details, and i'll see you at the East Brunswick Club show. (via Big Scary.net)
• British rock-cosmonauts Amplifier have released a companion EP to their mighty album, The Octopus (another 2010 highlight). The five-track release, entitled Fractal, is available as a free download from the their bandcamp page. The band's frontman, the wonderfully named Sel Balimir, has called it "an insight into exactly how we write." (via Amplifier)
• and finally, a big ol' *SPOILER ALERT* cause the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards were held today and though like most popular votes masquerading as imporant ceremenoies, there was a lot of awards that missed the mark (Lady Antebellum sweeped several categories, Who? Yeah, exactly); but hope abides. Muse's The Resistance won Best Rock Record, with Matt Bellamy awkwardly thanking his "beautiful preganant girlfriend" (that's Kate Huson trainspotters) - which inspired this Kanye West tweet. The Black Keys took out the award for Best Alternative Album, with Brothers, which probably also means they swayed Stephen Colbert's vote at one point. But the big news, which you probably already know if you clicked on any music site today - is The Suburbs winning The Arcade Fire Record of the Year. Viva la Art Rock! (via the internet in general really).

So yes, today is indeed the hallowed day of Cupid, Valentine's Day. Now Al's Music Rant has a bit of a potted history with ol' V Day. There's was the inaugral Valentine's Grinch playlist, it's grumpy sequel, and then another list for the softies celebrating that perennial song topic: the kiss. But this year is different...

The Valentine's Grinch Strikes Back

(EDIT: I'm starting to get used to having to re-up deleted posts because of mystery inclusion of songs that some phantom overseer does not like promoting. Sigh, ah well i'm guessing YouTube it is then)

Thought i'd do the kissing thing to throw you all off into thinking i was gonna let Valentine's slide without any sort of acerbic comment. Well, you were wrong, since i spent another Valentine's Day loveless and alone (awww) and instead put together, in the tradition of last year, another biting Anti-Valentine's playlist. Enjoy

AMR's Anti-Valentine's Mixtape '09

Razorlight - Who Needs Love
A deceptively jaunty opening to our mix and while Jonny Borrell's lyrics are (unsurprisingly) inconsistent, it still manages to capture a bit of rebellious attitude along with a sense of yearning.
sample lyric: Who needs the disappointment of a telephone call/not I

Franz Ferdinand - Cheating On You
The Glaswegian four-piece find themselves barreling through infidelity like it ain't no thing. The choppy guitars and driving rhythm hammer the point home in that tight modern way that the Ferdinand seem to do oh so well.
sample lyric: I'm cheating on you, yeah/You're cheating on me

My Chemical Romance - I Don't Love You
Emo balladry, a bit of a guilty pleasure i must admit, but it sees them in weepy mode as opposed to angry "i'll die and it's all your fault" mode, besides My Chem always had more depth than they were given credit for.
sample lyric: When you go would you have the guts to say/'I don't love you like i loved you yesterday'?

VAST - Winter In My Heart
As frosty as its title suggests and providing more emo than our previous entry for sure, with Jon Crosby's excellent production and string arrangements it gives the track a stirling poignance.
sample lyric: I need a summer but the summer's come and gone/I need a summer but it's winter in my heart


The Mountain Goats - No Children
It's probably meant to be a little ironic, but this is a deeply uncomfortable listen in its bitter honesty. Hoping for the mightiest of train wrecks in the ending of a relationship in a stripped-back, happy-go-lucky ditty
sample lyric: I hope it stays dark forever/I hope the worst isn't over
And I hope you blink before I do/And I hope I never get sober

Def Leppard - Love Bites
You can always rely on some hair metal to produce heart bruised power ballads like no-one else, and who better than Def Leppard?
sample lyric: When you make love/do you look in the mirror?/Who do you think of?/Does he look like me?

Van Halen - Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love
That opening is a stone cold killer riff. Lee Roth mocks all macho, while brothers Van Halen rock us off of romance like it's going out of style. For those who missed the point, they're talkin' 'bout sex.
sample lyric: You know youre semi-good lookin/and on the streets again

Pet Shop Boys - You Only Tell Me You Love Me When You're Drunk
Let's be honest, we've all been there at one point or another. Whether we've been the giver or receiver on the phone late at night. Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe have crafted that low-point into sheer pop perfection.
sample lyric: You only tell me you love me when you're drunk (you can't beat that chorus)


Spiritualized - Broken Heart
From its funereal tone and grand orchestral arrangement, the feling of heartbreak is palpable, awash with a tide of regret and pain. It's as beautiful as it is tragic.
sample lyric:And Im wasted all the time/Ive gotta drink you right off of my mind/
Ive been told that this will heal given time/Lord I have a broken heart

TV On The Radio - Don't Love You
Despite Tunde Adebimpe's soulful croon, it's hard to hide the cutting lyrics. Juxtaposed with a laconic croon and some droning experimentation, it's a meditative groove that's fuelled by quiet anger.
sample lyric: Now i can't trust your lover's tongue/Except to tease and taunt

Kanye West - Love Lockdown
Now I know i've ripped into Kanye's break-up album before (a reminder), but i stand by the fact that this hypnotic R&B cut is still the highpoint of the album. Basically because he doesn't get caught up in his own self-pity enough to let the music groove.
sample lyric: How many times i tell ya/'fore it finally got through/you lose/you lose

Friendly Fires - Lovesick
Just because you've had a gutful of valentine's and all the commercial schmaltz that goes with it doesn't mean you can't have a funky gutful. Friendly Fires are quickly becoming one of my new favourite bands, here's just another reason why.
sample lyric: Cold hearts/hold the world in your hands



Ladyhawke - Love Don't Live Here Anymore
Over her usual bed of 80's influenced soundscapes, Ladyhawke whiles away her lonely hours to a lost relationship. Much like Friendly Fires it's as danceable as it is sad.
sample lyric: Love love love is always so unsure/But bleeding hearts have always known no law

Bright Eyes - Lover I Don't Have To Love
Conor Oberst's an insightful little bugger, at the ripe of age of 22, he released this paean to lust. Articulately demonstrating how sometimes trying to simplify things, by skipping the romance for the pay-off, can only make things worse.
sample lyric: Your hands on me/Pressing hard against your jeans/Your tongue in my mouth/ trying to keep the words from coming out/You didn't care to know who else may have been you before

Stars - One More Night (Your Ex-Lover Remains Dead)
The spiritual sequel to the equally excellent Your Ex-Lover Is Dead, i think it perfectly captures the spirit of Anti-Valentine's. That love's not all roses, chocolates and cute teddy-bear cards, that love can sometimes lead to people doing horrible things to each other.
sample lyric: The entire second verse sung with restrained menace:
He starts with her back cause that's what he sees
When she's breaking his heart she still fucks like a tease
Release to the sky, look him straight in the eye
and tell him that now, that you wish he would die
you'll never touch him again so get what you can
leaving him empty just because he's a man
so good when it ends, they'll never be friends
one more night, that's all they can spend

A kiss is not a contract, but it's very nice...

(EDIT: Surprise, Surprise. You try to make any kind of playlist 'round here and it gets removed without a trace - grrrr - so for those who have joined us late, the neuteured version of the kissing playlist. Jeez.)

In anticipation of Valentine's Day i thought i'd put together a little playlist that celebrates the meeting of lips. Enjoy.

ONE FOR THE LIPS PLEASE

Prince - Kiss
With one of the greatest intros in contemporary pop, the one and only Prince gives us a list of do's and dont's for his potential lover. Later covered to creepier effect by a decaying Tom Jones, still you can't fault the original - a stone cold classic.

Ben Harper - Steal My Kisses
You can always rely on Mr. Ben Harper to give things a little soulful, funky groove. The infectious harmony layered-chorus and beat box percussion are memorable to say the least, a song that's as sweet as it is sexy

Joni Mitchell - In France They Kiss On Main St
The song that kickstarted my life-long love affair with Joni Mitchell. The opening track from my favourite album of hers - The Hissing of Summer Lawns - is more about nostalgia than the act of kissing, but at its core it's pure romance.

Seal - Kiss From A Rose
The only good thing that the shonky Batman Forever film gave us. I still find the bizarre imagery of the lyrics baffling, but it is this unique strangeness that gives the song its beauty... and perhaps Seal's finest moment.


Cher - The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss)
Taken from the soundtrack to Mermaids, Cher's excellent cover of the 1960's Betty Everett orginal is slightly kitsch, and all the better for it. Not only that but the song has aged very well, unlike the woman herself. (ZING!)

Des'ree - Kissing You
Boy, there's a lot of songs from soundtracks. That caught me off guard, but i really couldn't resist including Des'ree and her soulful cut from Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet. Steeped in yearning and subdued pain, it's really a touching piece - especially that dancing piano bridge.

They Might Be Giants - First Kiss
Time for a something a little more upbeat, cue TMBG and their rollicking live version of First Kiss. Capturing the giddy exuberance and simplicity of young love in a poppy, puppy dog way.

KISS - Kissin' Time
How could you not include them? Taken from the band's 1974 self-titled debut, it's actually a cover of an old 1959 novelty hit by Bobby Rydell. It was only added to the album on later pressings to tie in with a kissing contest.


Incubus - A Kiss To Send Us Off
Leading our compilation to a heavier edge is Incubus' excellent rocker from their prog-rock influenced 2006 album Light Grenades. It's even better live so i suggest you track down a version on YouTube or other source.(EDIT: well, now you can...)

Metallica - The Judas Kiss
Showing that even metal behemoths Metallica can get all romantic... ok so it's not really a love song, but it's still a ripping eight minutes of riffage. One of ten examples of why their latest Death Magnetic has been called their return to form album. Besides, not all kisses are nice.

Supergrass - Kiss Of Life
Supergrass have always been versatile, but even this dance-influenced groove was a bit of a surprise when it was released as part of their 10th anniversary best of compilation. A little indebted to Prince as well as the electronica scene of Madchester in the 90's, it's a funkified britpop hit as ever there was.

Pearl Jam - Last Kiss
The appropriately titled end to our list, originally released as a single, it's seen by die-hard fans as a bit of a pockmark in the Pearl Jam legacy. Ironically though, it's one of their best selling singles - especially here in Australia, where the band regularly perform it on tour.

The Valentine's Grinch

Hello everyone, loved all your responses to my last post - but time for something a little more timely.
It's Valentine's Day this thursday and i decided to mix things up with an Anti-Valentine's playlist. A quick google shows that what i thought was an entirely original idea is far from it... oh well, hopefully my choices are unique.

Now why an anti-valentines list? well cause as much as i'm a sucker for Xmas and Halloween, i've never understood Valentines, why should you only be expressing your love on a particular day? The old adagio that it's a holiday created by florists and card makers seems to ring true with me, so here's a mixtape of sad songs, breakup tunes and acerbic hate. ENJOY!

(P.S. again links where available, and thanks to the respective blogs who provide them, if you want them down please e-mail me at skirmishbass14@hotmail.com)

VALENTINE'S GRINCH PLAYLIST

KELIS - CAUGHT OUT THERE
Perfectly sets the tone for our mix, a break up that highlights the farce that is St. Valentine's Day.
sample Lyric: I hate you so much right now/ARRRRRRRGGGGGHHHH!
watch it here

SOFT CELL - TAINTED LOVE
The classic break up song, and a brilliant cover to boot.
sample Lyric: once i ran to you/now i run from you/this tainted love you've given/i give you all a boy could give you
Download here

OUTKAST - LOVE HATER
Strange opener to Andre 3000's solo half, The Love Below, there's also the excellent Valentine's Day from the same album, but this tone sits better
sample lyric: love hater/hater of love
get it here

BEN FOLDS FIVE - SONG FOR THE DUMPED
What Anti-Valentine's playlist would be complete without asking for your money back, and don't forget the black t-shirt.
sample lyric: So you wanted to take a break/Slow it down some and have some space/Well fuck you too
Listen now

KATE NASH - DICKHEAD
Most of Kate Nash's songs deal with grubby, stupid boys. Errr cooties, but this one just takes the cake.
sample lyric: Thirty five People couldn't count/
On two hands the amount of times you made me stop/
Stop and think why are you being such a dickhead for
listen here

OZMA - HEARTACHE VS. HEARTBREAK
A cheeky lil' debate between the descriptions of both, with some great boy/girl vocal work
sample lyric: but my mind and body fail me now/and my shining armor's rusted now
available now

STARS - YOUR EX-LOVER IS DEAD
So achingly beautiful it almost hurts, this really captures the mood for anyone whose had to smile when they really don't wanna
sample lyric: i'm not sorry i met you/ i'm not sorry it's over/i'm not sorry there's nothing to say
acquaint yourself

PORCUPINE TREE - HATESONG
An eight minute workout that manages to say more with its music than its words
sample lyric: i hope when you hear this you'll want to sue
watch here

STABBING WESTWARD - THE THING I HATE
You have to include a band whose name refers to piercing your heart now don't you? from the classic break up album 'Darkest Days"
sample lyric: i won't become the thing i hate/ i won't become you
Watch a Riddick Street Fighter Video Version

WILCO - I AM TRYING TO BREAK YOUR HEART
Quirky and Inventive, this still manages to tug at the heartstrings and crap all over the shiny image of Valentine card sentimentality
sample lyric: this is not a joke so please stop smiling/what was i thinking when i said it didn't hurt?
weep here

U2 - ONE
Ironically this is a favourite at weddings, people obviously haven't listend to the lyrics enough.
sample lyric: We're One/But we're not the same/ we hurt each other/then we do it again
reassess here

ELBOW - I'VE GOT YOUR NUMBER
Just such a great, laidback approach. Particularly singer Guy Garvey's throwaway vocal.
sample lyric: grow a fucking heart love
YouTube it here

JIMMY EAT WORLD - OVER
J.E.W's ouvre could fill an entire album's worth of anti-valentines, but this is the jewel in the crown
sample lyric: your attention is still attention/it doesn't matter if it's fake or real/i'll take it if i get it
watch a fan video

DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE - SOMEDAY YOU WILL BE LOVED
I'm relying on the majesty of Benjamin Gibbard and co. to take me out with a lil' bit of hope. No matter how bad things get, time heals all wounds. Or is it wounds all heals?
sample lyric: The memories of me/will seem more like bad dreams/just a series of blurs/like i never occurred
listen now


Once again, feel free to contribute with your thoughts, i'd love to hear them.
And hope you have a grouchy Valentine's Day.

C'est La Vie,
Al