81. Levellers, 'What A Beautiful Day' - a tune for 31.3.2011

It's rather pleasant outside.

Nothing is impossible in my all-powerful mind...

80. Missy Higgins, 'The Sound Of White' - a tune for 30.3.2011

It's been a few years since Missy Higgins, a wonderfully talented songwriter, released anything, and today I've selected 'The Sound Of White', from her similarly titled debut album.

I'd never have the courage or belief to trust this place... 

79. The Libertines, 'Time For Heroes' - a tune for 29.3.2011

Sometimes, I miss The Libertines.

It's all these ignorant faces that bring this town down...

78. Manic Street Preachers, 'Little Baby Nothing' - a tune for 28.3.2011

I've been listening to 'Generation Terrorists' for the first time in ages today, so here's a song from there.  Lyrically, I believe it to be as strong as anything they've released.

All the world does not exist for me...

77. The Sundays, 'Summertime' - a tune for 27.3.2011

It's Sunday, and the start of British Summer Time.  I wish there was more depth to my reasoning for today's selection, but there really isn't.  

 

All the sunshine banishes the dark...

76. Lemuria, 'In A World Of Ghosts' - a tune for 26.3.2011

My friend Chris introduced me to Lemuria just a few days ago.  I like what I hear.

We need better communication...

75. Feist, 'We're All In The Dance' - a tune for 25.3.2011

As far as I know, there are two versions of this quite beautiful song by the quite brilliant Feist, one in English ('We're All In The Dance'), and one in French ('La Même Histoire').  As the writer of this blog is depressingly monolingual, it's 'We're All In The Dance' that appears here.  Both incarnations appear on the soundtrack of 'Paris, Je T'aime', a film I'm rather fond of.


We are all part of the show...

74. Ani DiFranco, 'Hypnotized' - a tune for 24.3.2011

Ani DiFranco is another unbelievable songwriter, and I've chosen her song, 'Hypnotized' as today's song.  Such is my respect for her that I'm not even changing the spelling to 'hypnotised'.

You spoke so I could understand...

73. Emmy The Great, 'We Almost Had A Baby' - a tune for 23.3.2011

I like the way Emmy The Great tells stories, and I'm of the opinion that 'We Almost Had A Baby' is one of the best songs on her debut album.  Apparently, her follow up will be released this year; I, for one, sincerely ope it lives up to the same standards.

I would have liked to, to have something above you...

72. Nate Dogg ft. Warren G, 'Nobody Does It Better' - a tune for 22.3.2011

It's been a few days now since the world learnt of Nate Dogg's death.  Here's his track, 'Nobody Does It Better'.  This features Warren G, who's 'Regulate' is probably what Nate Dogg's best remembered for, at least in the UK.

Only out for money, hey, 'cause that's the game...

71. The Housemartins, 'Flag Day' - a song for 21.3.2011

Given that this blog is now ten weeks old, I should probably have included something by The Housemartins, local heroes here in Hull, before now.  'Flag Day' is one of my favourite songs of theirs, concerned with charitable fundraising.

Too many Florence Nightingales, not enough Robin Hoods...

70. Crowded House, 'Don't Dream It's Over' - a tune for 20.3.2011

Another classic.  I had this in my head most of yesterday, so here it is.

Trying to catch the deluge in a paper cup...

69. The View, 'Grace' - a tune for 19.3.2011

Unfortunately, I didn't get online at all yesterday, so this post is making up for that.  Here's 'Grace', a new track by The View that I first heard a couple of weeks ago. 

You act a little crazy but I know you've got it under control...

68. The Offspring, 'Self Esteem' - a tune for 18.3.2011

An old one today.

If she keeps it up I just might tell her so...

67. The Pogues and The Dubliners, 'The Irish Rover' - a tune for 17.3.2011

It's St. Patrick's Day today, so I thought I'd go for an Irish song.

Oh, how the wild wind drove her...

66. William Shatner, 'That's Me Trying' - a tune for 16.3.2011

For today's tune, I've chosen William Shatner's 'That's Me Trying', written by Ben Folds, Aimee Mann and Nick Hornby.  Somewhat oddly, I had a Facebook request from a reunion page for my old school this evening.  I left back in 2001.  I'm still friends with a couple of people I went to school with, and very occasionally keep up with others through Facebook, but a reunion is not something that appeals to me in the slightest.  I'm a different person now to who I was at school, and I have no compulsion to tell people who didn't really like me things about myself that I know they have no desire to know.  There's some vice versa in there too, but I do tend to bother with anyone who genuinely bothers with me.  It just seems an odd idea as far; as I'm concerned, if people want to know about me, they can get in touch with me directly!  

Anyway, I've droned on a little there, my apologies!  Basically, the 'reunion' thing sparked me into thinking of potentially worthwhile reunions, such as that documented in 'To Her Door', yesterday's entry on these pages (oddly selected well before the aforementioned Facebook weirdness).  Another song that sprung to mind was 'That's Me Trying', beautifully penned by three great writers.  The theme of the song is obvious from the lyrics, and Shatner delivers a fine performance in his role as the estranged father writing to his daughter.

I don't want to know what happened in your thirties...

65. Paul Kelly, 'To Her Door' - a tune for 15.3.2011

I'm of the opinion that Paul Kelly is one of the best lyricists of all time, a real storyteller.  This song's called 'To Her Door', and the lyrics explain the situation.

Walking in slow motion, like he'd just been hit...

64. Josh Rouse, 'Quiet Town' - a tune for 14.3.2011

I'm feeling a bit quiet myself today, so Josh Rouse's serene 'Quiet Town' seems appropriate as today's entry.  It's another song that reflects on landscape, and on interactions.

I've lived in cities where there is no solitude...

63. Jurassic 5, 'Concrete Schoolyard' - a tune for 13.3.2011

Here's some proper hip hop.  

When you hear it you can feel it...

62. Arab Strap, 'The Shy Retirer' - a tune for 12.3.2011

Arab Strap were only of many artists who played the University of Warwick during my first year.  Most of the artists who came cost less than a fiver, and, in Arab Strap's case, this was little more than they were worth - the vocalist was off his head.  That said, I still have time for them as a band, and I like both the beat and lyrics of 'The Shy Retirer', the sentiment of which is well matched by the vocals.

You jump start my serotonin...

61. Simon and Garfunkel, 'America' - a tune for 11.3.2011

Following yesterday's entry, I decided a Simon and Garfunkel original should feature today.  To continue the obsession with landscape, I've selected 'America'.

I looked at the scenery, she read her magazine...

60. Bodyjar, 'A Hazy Shade Of Winter' - a tune for 10.3.2011

For today's tune I've chosen Bodyjar's punk cover of Simon and Garfunkel's 'Hazy Shade Of Winter'.  I first heard of Bodyjar on an installment of Tony Hawk's almost a decade ago, and used some dodgy file sharing programme to download several songs, including this.  It's a cracking interpretation of a fantastic song.

Hang on to your hopes, my friend...

59. Elvis Costello, 'Oliver's Army' - a tune for 9.3.2011

A classic.

I would rather be anywhere else but here today...

58. Polarsets, 'Leave Argentina' - a tune for 8.3.2011

I just found Polarsets' name scribbled down as a band to remember.  It didn't work, I'd forgotten of them until this morning's rediscovery.  I like what I've heard though, not least 'Leave Argentina'.

I like today like tomorrow...

57. Secret Rivals, 'Prone To Explode' - a tune a day 7.3.2011

It's Monday and Bob Geldof...no, scratch that.  I've just been listening to the Tom Robinson Introducing podcast from 6music again, and it's awakened me to the rather good Secret Rivals.  This song's called 'Prone To Explode'.

I'm always three steps backwards...

56. Blur, 'Sunday Sunday' - a tune for 6.3.2011

It's Sunday, and Damon Albarn's probably been enjoying the extra bits that came with his paper.

The England he knew is now no more...

 

55. Alison Moyet, 'Blue' - a tune for 5.3.2011

It's Saturday, and Southend fan Alison Moyet will be off to Morecambe's Globe Arena.

Another northern sky...

54. The Cure, 'Friday I'm In Love' - a tune for 4.3.2011

It's Friday, Robert Smith is in love.

Sunday always comes too late...

53. The Platters, 'The Great Pretender' - a tune for 3.3.2011

I've heard so many covers of 'The Great Pretender' that I decided to post the original here.  We all feel like imposters sometimes.

Adrift in a world of my own...

52. Jamie T, 'Sheila' - a tune for 2.3.2011

I've chosen Jamie T's 'Sheila' today.  I probably prefer 'Back In The Game' and 'So Lonely Was The Ballad', but neither of them feature John Betjeman's 'The Cockney Amorist'.  It's another song underscored by landscape, which is already something of a theme for this blog.

None of us heard her coming...

51. The Reputation, 'The Ugliness Kicking Around' - a tune for 1.3.2011

I discovered The Reputation fairly recently, following vocalist Elizabeth Elmore's guesting on 'Chillout Tent' by The Hold Steady.  I did some youtubing and found myself listening a lot to songs by both Sarge and The Reputation, bands she formerly fronted.  I've currently only invested in works by The Reputation, but, given how much I listen to them (I kinda put their albums to the side a little after first obtaining them, but now they tend to make an appearance on whatever playlist I'm listening to), it won't be long until I pick up everything Elmore produced with Sarge too.  I love her songwriting; lines like 'this is just cartography, it doesn't mean I call you home' (from 'Cartography'), and 'I let it go, that seemed the easier route, but I don't really feel like making you feel better about it' (from 'Alaskan') are just fractional examples of a beautiful, often insightful honesty evident throughout all of Elmore's writing.  'The Ugliness Kicking Around' is as perfect an example of this as any other song.

Another night of backing down just leaves you cold...