50. The Promise Ring, 'Things Just Getting Good' - a tune for 28.2.2011

What could be a more fitting choice to celebrate the fiftieth A Tune A Day entry than 50 Cent's classic 'In Da Club'?  Well, seeing as I'm a fan of neither the song or the artist, a lot of things could.  One of those things is 'Things Just Getting Good' by The Promise Ring.

Tomorrow, we all get started...

49. Shellsuit, 'Postman' - a tune for 27.2.2011

My mind is blank right now.  Here's another song I like.  Maybe you'll like it too.

You've got to start somewhere...

48. The Delgados, 'I Fought The Angels' - a tune for 26.2.2011

Today's song is the fabulous 'I Fought The Angels' by The Delgados.  I don't have time to say anything more about it I'm afraid!

Everybody knows that I only have myself to blame...

47. Stoney, 'Until You Leave' - a tune for 25.2.2011

Starting yesterday, the next few days will see a lot of short updates.  I've come down to Basingstoke for the weekend so I've got quite a lot planned.  It also means my imagination won't be in overdrive, so you may get a few predictable and mundane selections.  Today's is Stoney's 'Until You Leave', a song which holds a lot of truths about Basingstoke.

It's always good seeing old friends, but I don't miss this place one bit...

46. Foo Fighters, 'Hey, Johnny Park!' - a tune for 24.2.2011

I've gone for another older song today, this time from the nineties.  I hadn't listened to 'The Colour and The Shape' for at least five years.   'Hey, Johnny Park!' was always one of my favourite Foos songs, so that's what I've chosen to post here today.

Everything fades in time, it's true...

45. Draw, 'Silver Screen' - a tune for 23.2.2011

I'm spending far too long being bored at the moment, so I was looking for something different to listen to, and something I haven't listened to in a while.  I stumbled upon Draw, who I think must have been around when I was at college.  Here's 'Silver Screen', from 'Simple to Severe', an album still worth a listen.

Just lonely hearts and broken dreams...

44. Fifth Hour Hero, 'How Much Is Revolution With Taxes?' - a tune for 22.2.2011

I've gone for something a bit angrier today.  Taken from Fifth Hour Hero's excellent 'Not Revenge...Just A Vicious Crush', their final album, 'How Much Is Revolution With Taxes?' is that something.  Listen.

I see through men wearing shirts painted with fake rebellion...

43. Jenny Owen Youngs, 'Fuck Was I' - a tune for 21.2.2011

Today's song is 'Fuck Was I' by Jenny Owen Youngs.  The lyrics are wonderfully honest and self-effacing.  We've all known moments like it.  It's also one of those rare instances where a swear word adds to a song's content, serving to underline her despair.  I have so much respect for this track, I really do.

I'm developing my sense of humour...

42. Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, 'The Message' - a tune for 20.2.2011

 

I was watching telly yesterday, and some car advert (involving a man with an apparent mental problem) is almost inexplicably soundtracked by 'The Message' by the legendary Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, so I thought I'd post the real thing.

She had to get a pimp, she couldn't make it on her own...

41. Tapes 'n Tapes, 'Freak Out' - a tune for 19.2.2011

Minneapolis' Tapes 'n Tapes recently released their third album, 'Outside', and I like what I've heard from it so far.  It's certainly something I'll be buying once I start earning again.  Here's 'Freak Out'.

I'll be holding on for the day...

40. Ballboy, 'I Gave Up My Eyes To A Man Who Was Blind' - a tune for 18.2.2011

Today's song is taken from Ballboy's superb acoustic album, 'The Sash My Father Wore and Other Stories', which deals with issues such as sectarianism, despair, cannibalism and mornings after (as well as including a cover of 'Born In The USA' that I'm rather fond of).  After listening to the album this morning, I struggled to decide on which track to post.  Every song on it is making me think today.  'I Gave Up My Eyes To A Man Who Was Blind' eventually won the battle, I love the allegorical tale of sacrifice, and the way that underwinds throughout the song, almost becoming a lament.  Though the evident Scottish accent of vocalist Gordon MacIntyre may put some off Ballboy, this is another song that I think everyone can engage with and respect, at least lyrically. 

A heart that won't work is not even worth a glimpse of your smile...

39. Elvis Presley, 'The Wonder Of You' - a tune for 17.2.2011

I'll admit, today's selection is pretty lazy.  In honour of Arsenal's win over Barcelona last night, here's Elvis Presley's 'The Wonder Of You', which has been played before kick off at the Emirates Stadium over the last few seasons in an odd attempt to establish it as a club song.  It doesn't have the same historical attachment as 'You'll Never Walk Alone', or even the theme from 'Z Cars', but I guess a tradition has to start somewhere.  I'm still indifferent to it myself.  Still, a great result last night, but it could mean nothing in a couple of weeks.


You give me hope to carry on...



 

38. Bright Eyes, 'Shell Games' - a tune for 16.2.2011

Today's song is 'Shell Games', by Bright Eyes.  I feel pretty drained today, and I can't think of anything much to say, other than Bright Eyes is brilliant.

My private life is an inside joke...

37. The Weakerthans, 'Our Retired Explorer (Dines With Michel Foucault In Paris, 1961)' - a tune for 15.2.2011

I know, I know: duplicating an artist so soon into the life of this blog is a travesty.  However, Google has informed me it's Shackleton's birthday, and there only seemed one logical song choice once I had that knowledge.  The Weakerthans graced A Tune A Day's first entry with their live rendition of 'Gifts', and today they return with 'Our Retired Explorer'.  For me, this is another wonderful example of John K. Samson's imagination.  The song tells a fantastic story (that outlined in the title), and I love the references to landscape, as always.

I could show you the way shadows colonise snow...

36. Idlewild, 'Everyone Says You're So Fragile' - a tune for 14.2.2011

I woke up about six hours ago with 'I Don't Like Mondays' in my head.  I've only just managed to dislodge it, and I have Idlewild to thank.  I probably haven't listened to them in a couple of years, but I was using Word and had to correct it from American English, which reminded me of the Idlewild song of the same name.  Though I do like 'American English', I'm favouring music that's a little more energetic and angry today, so here's 'Everyone Says You're So Fragile', from Idlewild's first album.  It's a song I've always enjoyed.

I'm not that medieval...

35. Somahigh, 'Lo Fat' - a tune for 13.2.2011

I have literally just heard of Somahigh on 6music's 'Tom Robinson Introducing...' podcast.  I liked the track on there, so I did some digging.  This effort, 'Lo Fat' was apparently released a while back, but they're certainly a band with plenty of promise.

Panic stricken for a moment...

34. Mumm-Ra, 'Light Up This Room' - a tune for 12.2.2011

Another short entry today.  Mumm-Ra, another sadly defunct band, gave birth to today's song, 'Light Up This Room'.  I forget how I discovered Mumm-Ra now, but I'm still quite the fan of theirs, and this track in particular.


All you had was a picture in your mind...

33. Bad Religion, 'American Jesus' - a tune for 11.2.2011

I've been exclusively listening to punk legends Bad Religion so far today, so it was always going to be a song of theirs that appeared here.  I've spent a little while dwelling on whether 'American Jesus' would be a cliched choice, but I've decided that I don't care if it is.  It's an amazing track, intelligent, angry, appropriate, and enduring.

He's the motive and the conscience of the murderer...

32. Ra Ra Riot, 'Can You Tell' - a tune for 10.2.2011

I selected today's song by having a look through some of my most listened to tracks on iTunes.  I'd not listened to 'Can You Tell' by Ra Ra Riot for about six months, I guess I'd passed saturation point, but it's a welcome rediscovery.  I first encountered Ra Ra Riot when they supported Vampire Weekend in Bristol a couple of years back, and we ran into them outside a takeaway.  I was really taken with their performance and invested in their debut album.  I acquired the follow up not too long ago, and, while it's still a good listen, it lacks the same spark for me.  Anyway, I love the infatuation that 'Can You Tell' captures, that almost immature idolisation that we all embrace from time to time.  I'm sure I've said something similar about a past entry or two, but it's absolutely true.  Perhaps it's another of my obsessions.

I get nervous every time you speak...

31. Gladys Knight and the Pips, 'Midnight Train To Georgia' - a tune for 9.2.2011

Today's tune is another classic, and another song that conveys the importance of landscape.  Here's the fantastic 'Midnight Train To Georgia'.

He sure found out the hard way...

30. Billy Bragg, 'A New England' - a tune for 8.2.2011

Today marks the thirtieth entry for 'A Tune A Day', and the song I've selected is Billy Bragg's 'A New England'.  Though there are several covers about, I've decided to go for the original.  I actually think the poetry here does become social commentary, despite being ostensibly the sentiment of an individual.  Most people would probably empathise with the lyrics, the concern with one's own romantic fortunes taking precedence over a desire to reshape society.  I don't think it's a selfish outlook, it's just the human condition, and Bragg captures it perfectly, with hints of humour, angst, sadness and bitterness.

I put you on a pedestal, they put you on the pill...

29.Gary Moore and Phil Lynott, 'Out In The Fields' - a tune for 7.2.2011

As many of you will have seen, Gary Moore, formerly of Thin Lizzy, passed on yesterday.  As he's one of my dad's favourite musicians, I thought I should pay my respects here.  He's probably still best known for his work with Thin Lizzy, so I've selected a song recorded outside of the band but with Phil Lynott.  I wanted to choose something Moore himself wrote, and 'Out In The Fields' tackles the sectarian nature of Northern Ireland, his home nation.  I appreciate the song's sentiments, and I like the way they're conveyed.  RIP, Gary Moore, widely considered as one of the best guitarists to have lived.


No flag or uniform ever stopped the bullet from a gun...

28. The Decemberists, 'January Hymn' - a tune for 6.2.2011

Today's song in 'January Hymn', taken from 'The King Is Dead', the new album from The Decemberists.  The album has quite a strong folk/country influence, as this track demonstrates, and it's an album I'm starting to love despite only listening to it twice through so far.  For me, there's always been a certain significance to The Decemberists, and that continues with 'The King Is Dead'.  I'm not feeling particularly energetic or positive today, so 'January Hymn' is a song that fits my mood this morning.  It's wonderfully crafted and feels a little mournful too.

What were the words I meant to say before she left?

27. Little Comets, 'One Night In October' - a tune for 5.2.2011

For today's tune, I've selected 'One Night In October' by Little Comets, who released their debut album last Monday.  Since being signed by Sony Columbia a couple of years ago, Little Comets seem to have been destined to produce something both accessible and enjoyable, and that's exactly what they've done with 'In Search Of Elusive Little Comets'.  'One Night In October' was the first track of theirs I heard, and it's still one I enjoy a lot.  With thoughtful, witty lyrics and energetic, interesting music it was an early statement (I think it was their first single) of their capabilities, and it still goes a long way to demonstrating what they're all about. 

Just like Carlisle, she lies on the border...

26. UB40, 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot' - a tune for 4.2.2011

To celebrate the start of the Six Nations today, here's 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot'.  I have the dubious honour of following England, despite my Welsh and Irish heritage, so 'Swing Low' was pretty much the only option.  The version here was England's official World Cup song in 2003.

If you get there before I do...

25. Procol Harum, 'A Whiter Shade Of Pale' - a tune for 3.2.2011

Something of a guilty pleasure today, with the classic 'A Whiter Shade Of Pale' by Procol Harum.  With influences from Bach to Percy Sledge, who can't enjoy this once in a while?

The room was humming harder as the ceiling flew away...

24. Arctic Monkeys, 'Despair In The Departure Lounge' - a tune for 2.2.2011

Today, I've selected one of my favourite Arctic Monkeys songs, 'Despair In The Departure Lounge'.  It's not their best known effort, coming as it does from the 'Who The F**k Are Arctic Monkeys?' EP, but I think it's as fine a demonstration of Alex Turner's writing ability as any.  The song tells its story really vividly, with music that matches the lyrics perfectly.  I hope you enjoy it.

Architecture won't do...

23. R.E.M., 'Daysleeper' - a tune for 1.2.2011

 
Another short entry today, I'm afraid.  Whilst job hunting is consuming most of my time, I did have a brief nap this afternoon before going to the football.  It's the nap that motivated today's choice, 'Daysleeper' by R.E.M.  It doesn't take a genius to work out what put it in my head, but it's a classic.

My night is coloured headache grey...