Rev Stan's other stuff

Song 6: The one that annoyed my friends at Uni

While we on the subject of me annoying people with songs I thought I might as well throw this cheesy little one in. It is Nothing Compares 2 U by Sinead O'Connor which I loved. It's not playing it a lot that annoyed my friends at Uni, it was the fact that I used to sing it to myself, all the time. And I'm not a great singer.

It became known as 'that bloody song'.

I do, still, really like it. I think Sinead O'Connor has an amazingly pure voice and at the time I remember liking the fact that she cut off her hair so being long-haired and beautiful couldn't be used by the record company as a marketing ploy.

To me she represented a beautiful, talented and a strong woman who was going to do things her way. She is also a singer who can portray great emotion and feeling in her voice. It's a cover version but you'd think she experienced everything she sings about.

It's not my favourite song of hers, that is Troy, which is probably up their in my top 10 favourite songs of all time.

Sinead O'Connor - Nothing Compares 2 U by MovieFanQS 

Song 7: The one the annoyed the hell out of my Dad

Picture the scene: a small council house, badly built, with thin walls and creaky floorboards. A teenage girl, in her bedroom which is above the living room, playing the same song over and over and over again, while working out her own little dance routine to said song.

I think my Dad's comment was when I eventually gave up and came downstairs was: "Now I like that song but after the hundreth time!!!!"

And the song? It was Take My Breath Away by Berlin because we were all into Top Gun back then.

Just listen, you can imagine what it sounded like through the ceiling. (Still know all the words but fortunately can't remember my dance routine.)

Download 2-04 Take My Breath Away (Love Theme From _Top Gun_)

 

Song 8: The second band I saw live, the jacket and the song that reminds me of Jen

Having started out quite promisingly seeing The Cult, some might think that I let myself down a bit with my next outing to see some live music but I'm still proud that I went to see INXS on their Kick tour. I actually saw them twice on the same tour, first at the De Montfort Hall in Leicester then again at the Birmingham NEC - they must have added the dates at bigger venues later as a response to demand.

At the NEC it was all seating and we were on the front row of a block quite far back so I couldn't actually see anything, for some inexplicable reason a security guard asked if Rose and I would like to go nearer the front. Er...tricky one that. We had to leave Rose's husband and brother in law behind but we were taken right to the front so we had an amazing view.

At the end of the gig they opened a barrier and let a bunch of people go back stage but we couldn't really go skipping off to meet the band with the boys waiting for us at the back. Besides as a 15/16 year-old I was far too shy to do something like that anyway.

I'd liked INXS for a while, again another band I got into before they made it big in the UK and already had a couple of their albums before they released Kick. My brother, who is now a graphic designer painted the logo from the Kick album on the back of denim jacket. It was actually my sister's jacket that she'd lent me, it became a more permanent addition to my wardrobe after that.

The song I've chosen always reminds me of my bezzie mate Jen as it's one we always danced to at Sixth Form Socials. I guarantee that if Jen was here now, and it was playing, we'd both be dancing.

New Sensation

Songs 10 & 9: The theatre connection

Anyone who's seen my other blog will know I go to the theatre a lot. They might have also surmised that I don't like musicals at all but that doesn't mean that Theatre hasn't influenced my music collection.

There is a particular song and a particular artist that falls into this category.

First up is the song. It's Islands by The XX. It was played briefly during a scene in Hamlet at the National Theatre last year - Ophelia is listening to it when Laertes comes to warn her off getting involved with Hamlet - which I loved so much I went to see it twice.

I didn't know who the song was by when I saw the play but when I was given a copy of The XX's album a few months later it immediately sounded familiar. It took a while to place it, well actually someone pointed it out but now that scene and the song are intrinsically linked.

Download 04 Islands

The second, is an artist who've I written about before. He's also an actor and I saw him in a play in which he sang a song. I discovered he is also a singer/song writer after googling him when I got home, listened to some samples, loved them and the rest is history. It's Johnny Flynn and this is called The Wrote & The Writ:

Download 02 The Wrote & The Writ

Song 11: The one that reminds me of my 19th birthday

My 19th birthday was my first away from home as I was at University. My birthday's up until that point had been quite sober affairs mainly owing to the fact that I went for quality rather than quantity when it came to friends and most of them lived outside my hometown and therefore had to drive.

So once I got to University in the big city, got a bigger group of friends, with bus as the transport there was no way it was going to be sober.  We did a lot of clubbing in that first year at Uni. Our student bar was tiny (rebuilt and extended for my second year) so we often headed into town.

As it was my birthday we decided to go to a slightly glitzier club (think footballer wives rather than chic). And as this was my favourite song at the time my friends got the DJ to play it for me with a dedication at which point we tore up the dance floor. Well we thought we did anyway.

It's Killer by Seal and I still love it.

Download 04 Killer

The big 50 question meme

 

Haven't done one of these for a while but an old Vox neighbour posted this and I love them so here goes:

WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE.

Yes there was an American family down the road who had a daughter with the same name. My parents had great imagination when it came to names (see the Sarcasm question). And no Stan isn't my real name but I'm not telling, unless you know me.

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED.

Yesterday watching an episode of Merlin. I'm a sap, I cry at everything.

DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING

No. I was banned from using biro's at school because my handwriting was so scruffy. Fountain pens and ink cartridges for me. Now I use inky roller-ball pens or fibre-tips. Hate biros.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE LUNCH MEAT

Whatever I'm in the mood for but usually chicken because that's what I've got in the freezer.

Songs 13 & 12: The blues and my Dad

I don't have nearly enough blues in my record collection considering how much I love it.

My Dad introduced me to the blues. He was into Howlin' Wolf, John Lee Hooker and the like but what re-ignited my love of the genre was my discovery Sea Sick Steve. His music harks back to the classics and what I particularly like  is that you can actually hear that he is playing a real instrument and not only that that his guitar has just as much a story to tell as he does. He's an ex-hobo you see and the sound is as beat up and down on it's luck as I'm sure he once was. Which is as it should be.

Shame my Dad will never get to hear Sea Sick Steve.

I've chosen the John Lee Hooker song I'm in the Mood to accompany Sea Sick Steve's The Dead Song so you can get an idea of what I mean.

 

 

Download 1-03 I'm In The Mood

 

Download 10 The Dead Song

 

 

Songs 15 & 14: My other favourite band and favourite female vocalist

I don't mind heavy metal or heavy rock if there is a good, strong vocalist behind it. I remember my brother listening to thrash metal in which all the instruments blurred into an only vaguely tuneful sludge over which someone barked into a microphone. Not for me although I can appreciate the rush the volume of it live gives.

My second favourite band: Skunk Anansie is a case in point. Like most rock they sound heavier live but through it all comes Skin's vocals. She is a formidable looking woman who's soft girly voice speaking inbetween track belies the sound that comes out when she sings. She's a great physical performer too.

Skunk Anansie and Skin (when she went solo for spell) are probably the band/artist I've seen most live. They never reached the height of fame that took them beyond favoured venues such as the Brixton Academy. Good for me, not so good for them.

They are my other favourite band (after Muse) and Skin is my favourite female vocalist for her unique sound, always being pitch perfect and having the light and shade to her voice that brings depth to each song even when she is jumping around on stage.

This is probably one of the most well known Skunk Anansie songs:

Weak

She went a lot softer for her first solo album and I loved seeing that side to her:

Don't Let Me Down

 

Good Friday sunshine in London

London had a distinct holiday feel to it today. No surprise because it's Good Friday but that combined with the unseasonably warm sunshine and the Royal Wedding being just a week away gave the city an extra air of festive spirit.

 

Heritage humour

London's newest blue plaque spotted in Golden Square, Soho, London

Song 16: The first band I saw live

Have always been quite proud that the first band I saw live was The Cult. No embarrassing kiddy pop for me, oh no, straight into greasy-haired, sweaty goth-rock.

Of course it was my brother Derren that got me into them and friends of my parents Mick and Rose that took us. Mick worked with my Dad but was a lot younger than him and had quite a cool taste in music. If it hadn't have been for Mick and Rose, goodness know who would have been my first gig and it probably wouldn't have happened until I was much older.

Derren and I were 14 when we went to see them at the De Montfort Hall in Leicester. How cool did we feel at school the next day? I dreamed of having a Russian fur hat like lead singer Ian Astbury.

I think my parents probably got a bit worried by my love of  The Cult when I bought the huuuuge posters you used to only be able to buy outside gig venues and plastered all over my bedroom walls. They were so big they were virtually wall paper and of course they were mainly black or black and red. Not quite the look my parents were hoping for in their youngest daughters bedroom.

Despite my love of The Cult I didn't go down the goth route so my parents needn't have worried. But the seeds to my love of guitar music were planted.

I've chosen the obvious song She Sells Sanctuary because it just rocks and is a head-nodder and no mistake (and I know all the words).

She Sells Sanctuary

 

Song 17: The band I feel embarrassed about liking but shouldn't

Maybe it's because the vast majority of my record collection, for a long time, was guitar heavy and most of the DJs on the radio stations I listen to take the piss out of them but I've always felt guilty about liking Coldplay. And I shouldn't because they write some beautiful, catchy and sometimes quite passionate songs.

It's an obvious choice but this remains one of my favourite tracks by them. It's probably the only song that I want to do air piano to:

Clocks

 

Song 18: One from the first CD I bought

It was my first summer living in London after graduating, I finally had a permanent job with a company that employed people under the age of 30. I was making my independent way in the world and so I decided to bin the ghetto-blaster with fancy, pop-out, back-to-back double tape deck (one deck was broken) in favour of a proper faux-stack stereo with radio, double tape and, yes, my first ever CD player.

So what was the first CD I bought? Bjork's Debut. She is another unique sounding vocalist and a unique artist although I confess that this is the only record of hers I own. It's got some great tracks on it but I particularly like this one - Venus As a Boy - it's on one of my favourite iPod playlists.

Download 03 Venus As A Boy

Song 19: The one that reminds me of my brother and sister

No 70s childhood is complete without a bit of Abba. They are the archetypal 70s pop band and my sister was a fan but then so was my brother Derren, yes he of Nirvana stage-diving fame. Who'd have thought it?

It's not just that Abba reminds me of my sister singing along to their records in our bedroom or that they are a great sing along band but also because they intrigue me. Beneath the frothy but ridiculously catchy pop tunes there are some very dark lyrics.

Towards the later years of their recording career the two marriages in the band were collapsing and it spawned some beautifully sad songs (you might be getting the impression by now that I like sad songs and I do).

This song, The Winner Takes It All, is probably the most obvious but the next time to you listen to Abba Gold (I know you have it in your collection) remember the heart break and bitterness between the band members, it will add a new depth. Trust me.

The Winer Takes It All

 

 

Songs 21 & 20: the reality TV ones

I've written about my love of Will Young before and how he's the only reality TV produced singer I actually voted for so I couldn't not include him some on this list. I love the unique tone of his voice and long may he continue recording:

 

Download 03 All Time Love

 

This second song is also from a reality TV show and for the same reason as Will in that I just love the unique tone to her voice and was smitten by it from the outset. It's Alex Parks from the BBC's Fame Academy. Sadly she seems to have disappeared off the face of the recording earth. Not a surprise really as she seem extremely ill at ease with the attention and fame winning the show inevitably brought.

Even though I love her original recordings, some of the covers she did on the show and which subsequently ended up on her first album were outstanding so I'm choosing her version of Beautiful:

 

Beautiful

 

 

 

 

Postcard from my life: Week 15 or friends and the famous

Had my bezzy mate Chris to stay for a few days this week. It's her birthday soon and as she's a theatre fan I took her to see War Horse and then we got day seats for Flare Path the next day. I've seen both before but was keen to see them again and she loved both of them too which was most important thing.

It was great to spend some rare quality time together - living at other ends of the country doesn't make it easy. Aside from the plays we did some theatre tours, a trip to the National Portrait Gallery (a personal favourite of mine) and lots of general mooching around the shops.

I don't really like shopping with other people but this was fun as I ended up going to loads of shops I don't normally go to as well as some of my favourites. Chris filled her boots buying two scarves, a pair of Birkenstock trainers and a new charm from Links for her charm necklace although the latter was technically a birthday present from her brother.  

Song 22: The short-lived talent

Jeff Buckley was recommended to me as an artist who had influenced Radiohead who are one of my favs. His album Grace has to be one of the most beautiful and made terribly poignant by the fact that he died tragically young. It was his only studio album.

He has such an incredible and varied voice and the album never fails to move me. Every time I listen to it I can't help thinking about what he would have done musically had he lived longer.

This is Lilac Wine which is one of the most beautiful songs in existence, in my humble opinion.

Download 04 Lilac Wine

Songs 24 & 23: My favourite band

I've been pondering this one for some time. Have even put it off a couple of times, mainly because I can't decide. It's my favourite band, Muse, you see and when I start listening to them I'm like a kid in sweetshop trying to choose one favourite.

They are a band I've liked from their early days - although I confess I didn't discover them until their second album and they are the only band I would go and see at Wembley. Boy can they do justice to Wembley.

There last album is probably my least favourite. Bands evolve and sometimes you don't evolve with them but their back catalogue is quite fantastic.

So I've decided to make it a little easier, only a little, and choose two songs: one from early on in there recording career and one from a bit later and package them up together.

First up and song #24 is New Born from Origins of Symmetry. So many of their songs remind me of seeing them live but this one in particular. As soon at the tinkly piano starts the crowd roars and then when it kicks the place explodes with energy. It reminds me of how at their gigs I truly abandon myself to the music.

 

New Born

And song #25 is Sing For Absolution from Absolution which I've always loved for it's haunting melody and chorus. The real joy is singing along at the top of my voice - either in the privacy of my own home or at a gig when no one can really hear how bad I sound.

 

 

Sing For Absolution

 

Song 25: The band Harry Potter got me into

This isn't what you are thinking. A lot of my music discoveries come from films I see (and I see a lot of films) but they also come from hearing actors and other musician's talk about what they are listening to.

Elijah Wood of Lord of the Rings fame (I'm a big LOTR fan) is a music junkie and has lead me to discovering bands like Gogol Bordello and Apples in Stereo. And likewise Daniel Radcliffe (I'm a huge Harry Potter fan) has led to the discovery of the band behind this next song: Beirut.

I'd definitely describe myself as a heart-led person. I never feel so alive as when I've seen a really moving play or film, had some sort of response from it, and much of the music I like elicits an emotional response whether it is joy or sadness or the need to dance wildly or curl in a ball.

I write all this because I'm trying to explain why I like Beirut so much. To many it will seem like a wailing dirge but to me it is the mixture of joy and celebration with an underlying sorrow that is, to me anyway, genius.

I think the band achieve this with the mixture of cultural influences in the sound. The Gulag Orkestar from which Brandenburg is taken has a strong Eastern European folk influence.

Beirut are one of my favourite bands, sadly they seem to have split before I could see them live, and Brandenburg is probably in my all time top five songs. It transports me to another place, not physical but emotional, every time I hear it. Somewhere desolate but hopeful. So thanks Mr Radcliffe for mentioning them in an interview and arousing my curiosity.

 

Download 03 Brandenburg

 

 

Song 26: The one from that holiday

If ever there was a song that takes me back to another country and another time then this has to be it.

We were on holiday in Cuba, it was New Year's Eve and our Cuban guide Marlon had organised a fantastic evening for us. It started with a sunset flag ceremony and dinner over looking the ocean as the last bit of light left the sky.

Then we headed into Santa Clara to a music house where Septeto Sones de Oriente were playing. It was wonderful music and everyone was relaxed and having a great time.

I had to buy a copy of CD and no it wasn't one of those holiday impulse purchases that ends up in the bin. I call it my sunny music. Whenever work is tough or the weather is bad I put this on and I'm immediately transported back to beautiful, sunny Cuba and my lovely trip there.

After the music house we went to the main square where there was more music but things didn't really kick off until after the midnight speeches and then the place came alive. It was like being in a movie, the square was full and everyone was dancing. And no one was dancing alone for long.

Download 02 Arrea Pa Que Ilegues

Postcard from my life: Week 14 or the Bro's big birthday

My brother moved back to London last year and it's great having him in town again. It means we meet up more often, usually on the spur of the moment.

It was his 40th yesterday (which means it's three weeks and five days until mine!) and so I sent him a text to see if he fancied lunch or coffee and cake or something and said 'both'. He likes his food.

And so we met up for what turned out to be an afternoon of eating in the sun, people watching, car watching (we were near the King's Road) and catching up. There was a brief sniff around the shops to see if we could find the sunglasses he wanted but that was about it.

Simple but lovely.

 

 

Those Are Spiders

via i.imgur.com

via www.cutesexyfunnyawful.com

Bush tucker trial anyone?

Song 27: The one from the band my brother introduced me to

As its my big bro's birthday today thought it appropriate to post this song. It's Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana.

It earns it's place for several reasons:

Firstly it was my brother that introduce me to Nirvana.

Secondly, I've dined out on the story of him not only seeing them live at Rock City in Nottingham but also stage diving at the gig (I think it's cool anyway).

Thirdly because I just love Nirvana and this song is one of my all time favourites. It's slightly cheesy but it is a classic track that never fails to get my head nodding or toe tapping or even sometimes even jumping around if space and situation allows.

If I had a time machine that could go back to one gig, I think Nirvana would probably be it as I never saw them live.

Smells Like Teen Spirit

 

Song 28: The one that reminds me of a gig moment

Like quite a few bands in my collection I discovered Gogol Bordello through a film. They were sort of playing themselves in Everything is Illuminated, mainly because Elijah Wood, star of the film, was a big fan and dating one of the singers.

But I liked their blend of Eastern European gypsy-folk music and punk so I got their album. However, you can't really appreciate Gogol Bordello until you see them live, which I've done a few times now, but the first time was unbeatable.

I've been to a lot of 'lively' gigs with Mosh but always stayed near the back out of harms way. With Gogol Bordello, positioned as usual three quarters of the way back from the stage, the gig started with all the vigour that the band could employ and the crowd responded accordingly but this was the whole crowd. And the only thing to do was to join in.

  So there I was in the midst of several hundred men, jumping up and down with the sort of wild abandonment and joy normally reserved for childhood. In the midst of all the chaos and energy and while in full flight, Mosh and I happened to turn and look at each other at the same time - he had the biggest grin on his face and I know I did too.

It was one of those moments when you just know that you are sharing in one of the best times and you don't even have to to say it.

And if you get a chance, go and see Gogol Bordello live - but preferably in a small venue, there is far more band/crowd interaction that way. Trust me, it's brilliant and after that I started moving closer and closer to the front at more gigs.

So here is one of my favourite Gogol Bordello songs in honour of that moment: Start Wearing Purple. Oh and the picture was taken by me at a festival on Clapham Common.

Download 09 Start Wearing Purple

 

Song 29: A guilty pleasure #2

Yesterday's music shame was all about singing, this one is all about dancing. Yep you guessed it, well maybe you didn't, it's Justin Trouser-snake.

This is like pop-aholics anonymous. *stands* Hello, I'm Rev Stan, I spent money on Future Sex/Love Sounds.

Now I prefer the Future Sex half of the album as it is much funkier than the R&B influenced second half but it does fit awkwardly alongside my predominantly indie/guitar led record collection. But I do like a bit a bop and you just can't fail to throw a few moves to this one on the kitchen dance floor, it's just achingly cool.

It is of course Sexy Back (dare you not to at least do a little head nod or toe tap)

Download 02 SexyBack

Song 30: A guilty pleasure #1

Come on we all have them. Songs or even albums that go totally against our usual taste in music.

I have a couple of very guilty pleasures, I'll post the second tomorrow, get them over with in one go so to speak, so we can move on.

Anyway without delaying the embarrassment any longer, (one of) my guilty pleasures is Daniel Beddingfield. Just his album Gotta Get Thru This. I love the funkier songs like the title track and Right Girl but, and here I hang my head in shame *speaks quietly* I actually really, really like If You're Not the One.

It's so unlike me but I can't help it. It's on one of my favourite iPod playlists and I have to sing along really loudly whenever it comes on (one day I'll hit the high note).

Bet there are lots of secret fans out there really.

If You're Not The One

 

Song 31: the song that was so risque (back then)

I have to include this one because it reminds me of two things. Firstly evenings spent huddled around a radio with my brothers trying to find a commercial radio station that was playing it because it had been banned by the BBC.

And secondly because it serves as a reminder of how relatively innocent things were back then. Would anyone even blink if there was a song with the lyrics: 'relax, don't do it, when you want to come' and 'when you want to suck to it'?

It is of course Relax by Frankie Goes to Hollywood. I was 12 when it was released and probably didn't really understand fully what it meant but everyone was talking about it and it felt quite rebellious listening to it.

(It's also a bit of brilliant 80s pop)

Download 2-05 Relax

 

Song 32: The one that reminds me of larking around with my brothers

Back in the day of vinyl the record player my brothers and I had, had four different speeds (it was that old but no we didn't have to wind it up). You had the single speed 45 rpm and album speed 33 rpm. But then there was 78 rpm and something much slower than 33 rpm, can't remember exactly what but it was something like 17 rpm.

We never had anything that was suitable for playing on the fastest and slowest speeds but that didn't stop us experimenting. We were kids.

Faster was always funnier and our favourite was Kings of The Wild Frontier by Adam and the Ants mainly because it sounded like Adam was singing on helium and the distinctive drum beat was manic. Brilliant. The hours just flew by.

You'll have to take my word for it thoug because I doubt very much such a recording exists. The original was quite cool though - it was my older brother's record. His taste in music went downhill after that.

 

Download 07 Kings of the Wild Frontier

Ah and video's were much cheaper to make back then (and the dance routines easier to learn).

 

 

 

Song 33: The one from my favourite film

This one is from the brilliant Donnie Darko which is one of my favourite films if not my all time favourite (so far). It's one of those films that no matter how many times I watch it, I always see something new and yet I never quite get it. I have my own theory but that is for another post.

But what of the song. Well it's become synonimous with the film and it fits so perfectly, it could have been written for it. Of course it wasn't, it's a cover of a Tears For Fears song from the 80's and I confess I only had their greatest hits, released in 1992, so I don't know exactly when it was first released.

Anyway, not only is it great song and a great song from a great movie but it's also a great example of what cover versions should be: Different and better than the original. And if you don't believe me here is Mad World from Donnie Darko (albeit sung by Roland Orzabal not Gary Jules) followed by the original, which still has a certain charm.

 

Download 17 Mad World

and the original

 

Download 06 Mad World

 

 

 

Postcard from my life: Week 13 or the journey from hell

I've travelled a lot in my job over the last 13 years, mostly in the UK but occasionally France. Always by train and there have been a few delays, naturally. There was the infamous return journey from Cannes when arriving at Lille I discovered that, for reasons known only to those operating Eurostar, the chunnel was closed because of a track side fire near Waterloo, Clapham in fact, about 10 minutes walk from where I live.

But nothing close to that had happened in the UK. Until last week. I was due to catch the 14.35 from Kings Cross to Leeds but my train was cancelled so I caught the next train, the 15.10, due to arrive into Leeds at 17.30.

First we were held for over an hour at Grantham station which turned out to be because of a body under the train just in front of us,  and just outside the station. Rumours started to circulate that it would be at least 7pm before we'd get moving but then they decided to terminate our train and put us on coaches to the next station up the line - Newark.

Song 34: My favourite piece of classical music

The only time I listen to classical music is when I am working as I find it soothing but not distracting. I don't have a vast amount in my collection but one piece always makes me stop for a moment.

For me it is just as much about the pauses as it is the notes being played; it's as if the music is spontaneous almost like a train of thought or stream of consciousness from the pianist and that makes it, for me, such an arresting piece.

I never tire of hearing it, it's Debussy's Suite Bergamasque from Clair du Lune.

Download 01 Suite bergamasque_ Clair de lune

Song 35: The one that reminds of Chris and the Student Union disco

While I'm on the thread of songs with specific memories I had to put this one in this list. It's Shiny Happy People by REM which is sort of infamous now as the song the band refuses to play live or maybe they've changed their mind in recent years, I don't know.

Anyway, I love it not only because it's a jolly song but because it always reminds me of one night at our Student Union bar disco, this song came on and it was a bit of a favourite of mine and my friend Chris' so we immediately leapt up to dance.

Now I don't know whether it was because our dancing wasn't deemed terribly good or to hide the fact that we were the only two people on the dance floor but the DJ hit the smoke machine, hard,  and we soon found ourselves dancing in a dense fog, so dense we couldn't even see each other. All we could hear was the music and our own laughter.

I feel compelled to add some Rev Stan/REM music trivia that doesn't necessarily have a song attached to it:

1. I got into REM three albums before they released the very, very popular Out of Time (a rare occasion of not jumping on the bandwagon).

2. The first time I saw them was at the Milton Keynes Bowl and they were supported by Radiohead, you know that little band that Thom Yorke sings in?

3. I got to see REM many years later play their Glastonbury warm up gig at the relatively tiny Brixton Academy and it was amazing proving that gigs at big venues, on the whole, suck.

 

Shiny Happy People

 

 

Song 36: The one that reminds me of my sister

This song is intrinsically linked to a memory I have of me and my older sister. I was sat on her knee and she was swaying me from side to side in time with the music and singing the song. I remember little else of the context but I love the song for it nonetheless.

Golden Brown by the Stranglers:

Download 2-18 Golden Brown