12th January 2009

I’ve updated the list of the music I’ve been listening to according to Last.FM below. Quite where else you might find Bach and Medelsohhn rubbing shoulders with Damien Rice, The Killers, Al Green and Nick Drake I’m not sure. But I guess that’s why I like Last.FM so much. It allows you to hear what you like so easily.

Top 50 Artists / Acts Jan 2009

10 August 2008

Time I posted an update on the tracks I’ve been listening to. According to Last.FM:

I think I prefer to post to this section occassionally rather than regularly. The shift in my music preference over time is more noticeable.

Here’s the latest update

January 2008 Last.FM Music

October 2007 Last.FM Music

I haven’t updated this in a couple of months, so here is a more detailed list of what I’ve been listening to recently:

July 2007 iPod CD’s

Belleruche – Turntable Soul Music (this is mighty fine)

Bellatrix – Various (atmospheric classical album with Prague Chamber Orchestra)

Cherry Ghost – Thirst For Romance (cherry aid rock)

Crowded House – Time On Earth (they’re back and the Neil Finn still writes bittersweet lyrics)

Editors – an end has a start (cracking indie rock with a mellow streak)

Tracey Thorne – Out of the Woods (listening to this alot again right now)

Instant Karma – Amnesty International collection of Lennon covers (some reworkings of these Lennon classics are surprisingly good)

Nick Drake – Family Tree (while there’s still a demand for new material from the fragile and depressed genius who sadly died 30 years ago, this collection of early work is a mixed bag. It largely comprises rough recordings of work before his first commercial album, plus a couple of covers and musical interludes with Nick playing music to or with his family. The rawness in the sound, on the best tracks, makes it sound like Nick Drake is performing a live impromptu acoustic set in your room. Which is great, but a little otherworldly. The tunes are neither as orchestrated or as sophisticated as much later classics such as Fly, Pink Moon or Northern Sky. But several still hold a magic etherealness. Apparently Nick Drake never faired well in live concerts, as he would retune his guitar for 10 minutes or so in between every track he played, breaking the concentration in the audience and the spell his wounded delivery could weave. But I recommend you check out Northern Sky, Pink Moon, Mogwai, Fly and Hazey Jane I if you’ve only ever heard River Man or Cello song. Then, if you like those classics, try the new album, Family Tree for an acoustic collection of his earliest work)

June 2007 iPod Playlist

Kiss Me Good-Bye – Nobuo Uematso (Final Fantasy XII OST)

Departure – Frozen Silence

The Boss – James Brown

Mogwai – Nick Drake

Mr Blue Sky – The Delgados (John Peel Sessions)

Amelia – Roxana Amed

I Will Remember You – Sarah McLachlanY

This Is Heaven To Me – Madeleine Peyroux

Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood – Nina Simone

Unfinished Sympathy – Massive Attack

If You’re Not The One – Danial Bedingfield

Vastapol – Elizabeth Cotton

20th Century Boy – T-Rex

One – U2

May 2007 iPod Playlist

Unplayed Piano – Damien Rice & Lisa Hannigan

On Call – Kings of Leon

Signal Fire – Snow Patrol

Ordinary Day – Dolores O’Riordan

It Will Find You – Maps

In The House – In A HeartBeat – John Murphy

Angeles – Elliott Smith

Your Love Alone Is Not Enough – Manic Street Preachers

Harrowdown Hill – Thom York

Away From Here (Acoustic) – The Enemy

L.A. Woman – The Doors

David Bowie – Life On Mars

Closer – Travis

May 2007 CD’s

New Moon – Elliott Smith

Wonderwalls – A selection of the 12 top selling versions of Oasis’ track ‘Wonderwall’ on iTunes UK

Treasure – Hayley Westenra

Faure: Requiem – Academy of St. Martin in the Fields

April 2007 iPod Playlist

Northern Sky – Nick Drake

Run (Acoustic) – Snow Patrol

Modern Love – The Last Town Chorus

Let Down – Easy Star All-Stars

Everything I’ve Got – Iain Archer

Orpheus – David Sylvian

Baby Blue – Phil Campbell

You Give Me Something – James Morrison

High and Dry – Radiohead

Glass, Concrete And Stone – David Byrne

Pink Moon – Nick Drake

Yer Blues – The Dirty Mac

Day is Done – Charlie Hunger Quartet & Norah Jones

Never Loose Your Sense of Wonder – Yeti

Start Something – Maps

Wild World – Cat Stevens

Gone Are The Days – The Magic Numbers

April 2007 CD’s

Maps – We Can Create

Easystar All-Stars – Radiodread (Reggae version ‘O.K. Computer’)

The Magic Numbers – Those the Brokes

Vivaldi: The 4 Seasons – Academy of St. Martins

Holst: The Planets – London Symphony Orchestra