Mixtape 4 Sandra

I was asked a few weeks ago to put together a mixtape of songs my wife loves! A little late but here it is!


1. Placebo - Every Me Every You
2. Catatonia - Road Rage [MP3 Link (right-click open in new window!)] MySpace
3. The Presidents of the United States of America - Love Everybody
4. Dar Williams - As Cool As I Am (Live) [MP3 Link (right-click open in new window!)] MySpace
5. Ben Harper - By My Side [MP3 Link (right-click open in new window!)]MySpace
6. Nanci Griffith - Listen to the Radio
7. Erykah Babu - On & On
8. Fionn Regan - Be Good or Be Gone
9. Mark Dignam - Manhattan Skyline
10. Sarah McLachlin - Ice Cream
11. Jack Johnson - Sitting Waiting Wishing
12. Newton Faulkner - I Need Something
13. The Fat Lady Sings - Arclight [MP3 Link (right-click open in new window!)] MySpace
14. The Frames - Fake

I adore this video for The Fames - Fake! GLEN GETS SHOT!



Ok an honourable mention has to go to her guilty pleasure! When Sandra was 12/13 every and I mean every Irish gal loved Garth!



Whats not to love about Garth!......Really!

Ruby Tuesday - Pt. 4: Mickael Lenel

French guitar sensation Mickael Lenel arrived in Ireland at the age of 21. He learned to play electrical guitar and from his sound was influenced by artists such as Kirk Hammett and Dave Mustaine. Mickael states on his MySpace that he is influenced by Joe Satriani, Metallica, Dream Theater, John McLaughlin, Yann Tiersen and Dead Can Dance. However four years ago he transfered to acoustic guitar and began to compose instrumental music on acoustic guitar. I really feel from this track below and from the YouTube video that he can explore a market for experimental, instrumental, acoustic rock music championed by Rodrigo Y Gabriele.

Mickael Lenel - AEO (From Hell) mp3

Upcoming Shows

4 May 2008 Purty Kitchen (the purty sessions) Dun Laoghaire
8 May 2008 Voodoo Lounge Dublin

Coldplay - Hamell on Trial via Madonna in seven steps!

Coldplay are putting their finishing touches with producer Brian Eno on their fourth studio album, "Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends", which will be released in June 2008.

Coldplay - Yellow [mp3][MySpace]

Brian Eno in 1980 co-wrote and produced one of the best pop songs ever (no exaggeration!) with Talking Heads called Once in a Lifetime off the album Remain in Light. While researching I notice there's a chance of a David Byrne - Brian Eno reunion.

Talking Heads - Once in a Lifetime [ mp3] [MySpace ]

Talking Heads Keyboardist and Guitarist Jerry Harrison produced a whole bunch of CDs for various bands including The Foo Fighters, Crash Test Dummies, No Doubt, Violet Femmes and Live's 1991 debut entitled Mental Jewellery.

Live - They Stood For Love[mp3 ] [MySpace ]

In 1996 Live recorded a Vic Chesnutt song "Supernatural" to be included on the CD Sweet Relief 2. Sweet Relief provides financial assistance to all types of career musicians who are facing illness, disability, or age-related problems.

Vic Chesnutt - What Do You Mean? [mp3 ] [ MySpace]

Sweet Relief 1 was a compilation of Victoria Willams songs played by artists such as Pearl Jam and Lou Reed. On Sweet Relief 2 which was a compilation of Vic Chesnutt songs, there was an excellent version of Guilty by Association by Madonna and her brother in law Joe Henry.

Madonna - La Isla Bonita [mp3 ] [MySpace]

Joe Henry is an artist and producer in his own right. He has produced albums by Aimee Mann, Teddy Thompson and Ani DiFrano's 2005 Knuckledown which is in my opinion Ani's most accomplished CD to date.

Ani DiFranco - Studying Stones [ mp3] [Righteous Babe ]

Ani has her own record label called Righteous Babe Records which includes her tour mate Hamell on Trial. When we went to see Ani last November Hamell blew us away with his energy and humour. Go check him out for good old folkie punk fun!

Hamell on Trial - Inquiring Minds [ mp3] [ Righteous Babe]

5 Friday Favourites!

Friday is here again and the weekly feature 5 Friday Favourites is back. The mix begins with my fav track at the moment. The band are the David Byrne endorsed Vampire Weekend with the retro tune M79. It's bliss.

Vampire Weekend - M79 [mp3] MySpace

Next up is Dublin band Delorentos with their hit in Ireland from last year called the Basis of Everything.

Delorentos - The Basis of Everything [mp3] MySpace

Chill out track is supplied by Finley Quaye with his hit from the late 90s Even After All.

Finlay Quaye - Even After All [mp3] MySpace

Kila will make you wish you were in a country bar in Ireland getting pissed on Guiness.

Kila - Crann Na Bpingini [mp3] MySpace

Finally the hit from John Mayer: Waiting on the World to Change. My family and I are waiting on the housing market to change!

John Mayer - Waiting on the World to Change [mp3] MySpace

Lost Jems!

What I love about music is that it can bring you back to a time, place and age. For instance as soon as i hear a song from Blood Sugar Sex Magik I'm brought right back to a Supermacs bus from Dublin to Galway to babysit my two year old niece and I was 14 at the time.......

Red Hot Chilli Peppers - Suck My Kiss

....Thanks to Record Store Day last Saturday i found two lost jems!

Back in 94/95, I owned a compilation cd of young Irish singer songwriters that has disappeared. One of the tracks on it was by Dr. miller called Alcohol Problem. I found his 1993 CD "The Bitter Lie" second hand last Saturday. Here is ...

Dr Millar - Alcohol Problem

Another CD I picked up was one of those free cds that came with Uncut magazine in 2004. Again this was a CD that went into oblivion. Morrissey chose 17 top tunes for this CD. There were a few great tracks on there but one in particular I fell in love with was Single by Pony Club. Mark Cullen is Pony Club and is another singer from my home village of Finglas, Dublin. It's a truely magical tune:

Pony Club - Single

Ruby Tuesday Pt3 - Dayo

This is the 3rd part of a feature called Ruby Tuesday where i plug a new artist and hopefully give a small helping hand to get their music out there!

Dayo is a Singer-Songwriter with immense talent from the same music stable as John Martyn, Van Morrison and Nick Drake on Ecstasy! The three tunes on his MySpace show real maturity in his voice and in his belief that he is making worthwhile music. Dayo is still in the recording and editing process for his debut album due out around Christmas. I urge all my readers to check out his MySpace and add the guy! He is quote "fookin techno thick extraordinaire" and has only 15 friends and no comments! Knowing Damien personally he don't give a shit about MySpace, he just wants to put together a CD of quality tunes and get his music out there! This for me is an excellent track from this Jem of an artist.

Dayo - Wave After Wave

Dayo - MySpace

Angela McCluskey - Exclusive

Hailing from Glasgow, Scotland Angela McCluskey has a voice so pure and special, that you could listen to her for days with pure enjoyment. Geffin Records first recognised her talents when her band The Wild Colonials were signed to their label in 1993. Their two albums, 1994's "Fruit of Life" and 1996's "This Can't be Life" were released to great artistic acclaim. Angela has also worked with the French dance outfit Telepopmusik in recent years with more releases planned for the future. In 2004 Angela released her debut album, "The Things We Do" with producer Nathan Larson. The tracks "Know it all" and "It's Been Done" come from this album that I recommend you all find, explore and fall in love with. Nathan Larson describes the album so well:

"This is a record about sex, death, joy, fear, love, pain, and beauty, interpreted by one of the most exquisite modern voices."

Angela McCluskey - Know It All

Angela McCluskey - Its Been Done [Live in Dingle]



Angela has also shared a stage with many many accomplished artists including Michael Stipe, Deep Forest, Cyndi Lauper and Joseph Arthur. It was the duet with Joseph Arthur on her MySpace that led me to contact Angela about her new album and when that song will be made available! I urge you all to check out the tune "Running Out of Time". I think it's the best tune Joseph Arthur has performed on since his breakthrough song "In The Sun". Angela very kindly allowed me a peak at her new album and sent me this wonderful song for posting called "Friend". This song is posted in particular for my friends who encouraged me to write this blog and have given me enthusiasm to continue writing about what music inspires me. Angela McCluskey inspires me. Watch out for her new album coming out in the summer. Here is the exclusive track: Listen, Enjoy, Buy!

Angela McCluskey - Friend



MySpace

Website

Record Store Day! - Mark Geary

It's not everyday you buy a cd is a record store and to be right next to the artist himself while his music was playing in the store. It happened to me today in Road Records MySpace.

Mark Geary then sat comfortably accompanied by Ann Scott on vocals and played five tunes from his new album Opium which at present is only available to Irish customers in CD format. Music magazine Hot Press thinks Mark's new CD will fill the void for any Damien Rice fans who are waiting for new music. Mark's songwriting, melodies and persona for me matches anything from either Damien Rice or for that matter Glen Hansard. He deserves to have a home in your record or cd collention!

Mark Geary- MySpace

New Single: Mark Geary - Tuesday {mp3}

Repost Mark Geary - Suzanne {mp3}

5 Friday Favourites!

Happy Weekend Folks

5 of my favourite tunes to get you in the mood for the weekend! I hope your weekend includes a trip to the local record store!

The Cure - Just Like Heaven [mp3] MySpace
Cold War Kids - Hang Me Out To Dry [mp3]MySpace
Pete Yorn - Long Way Down [mp3] MySpace
Modest Mouse - Missed The Boat [mp3] MySpace
The Flaming Lips - Yeah Yeah Yeah Song [mp3] MySpace

Saturday 19th April: World Record Day!

Ruby Tuesday Pt 2 - Mark Dignam

Mark Dignam - Singer Songwriter who grew up literally 30 metres from my house! Here's the story..... when I was 14, my best friend at the time lived next to Mark. He has a younger brother Roy who was just the coolest guy to know. We went with him to see Rage Against the Machine play in a tiny venue in 94 and Roy literally knew everyone on route to the show and at the show. Roy was like a God to us. Apparently and I'm not sure if this is true but Roy told my best friend that he was managing his brothers band called "The Colour of the Sun". I think the song Glide appeared on a compilation album around '93. I'm not sure what happened to "The Colour of the Sun". Anyway with his mate Glen Hansard on Bass duties and backing vocals Mark Dignam produced a wonderfully inspirational debut called "Poetry and Songs From The Wheel" in '94. Nearly 15 years after buying the CD I still listen to it regularly. The tracks "This is Love" and "Blossom" are taken from his debut. We would have seen Mark perform many times in Whelans and once in Galway where he rocked a tiny venue and provided us with a great night. I'm theorising that if the net and blogging was around in '95 then I think Mark would be making a handy living out of his music. In '97 he released "In a Time of Overstatement" The track "Bumble Bee" here is taken from this album. In the year 2000 he apparently found love in Pittsburg and for the last number of years he has been wooing audiances with his wonderful wit and tunes. An album of acoustic tunes came next but it is his next CD that got rave reviews from HotPress and many other publications. Heart Shape Box (2005) from which Jane is taken from is full of heartfelt inspirational songs.

adultcontemporary.co.uk review of Heart Shape Box:

"The gift of the gab may be one thing, but Irish singer-songwriters always seem to share an innate tune sense and a swinging, almost jazz-like feel. Like a rockier Luka Bloom, Irish-born but steel town Pittsburgh-based Dignam takes the troubadour songsmith route to work, with an album that laps at the edges of both the Counting Crows' early albums and Josh Ritter's last. It is so refreshing to see someone start with a song and see where it could go once some electricity is applied in the studio. The band sound loose and energetic, and not afraid to rock out where the song calls for it. The songs range between exposition and balladry, with styles smoothly shifting between ballsy rock and acoustic folk, but there is not one on the album that is less than excellent, or a moment when one outstays its welcome.

ACE rating 8/10"

I think it is best to leave you with a few tunes from Mark Dignam for you to listen and evaluate before heading straight to Pittsburg to watch him live or to itunes and emusic to buy his CD. At the very least add him to your MySpace friends list!

Mark Dignam - This is Love [mp3]

Mark Dignam - Blossom [mp3]

Mark Dignam - Bumble Bee [mp3]

Mark Dignam - Jane [mp3]

What's he up to now? Well he is a founder member of Fairplay Collective! The following was stolen from the Fairplay Collective MySpace ....

"FairplayCollective is an organization/company/movement formed in the spring of 2006 in New York City’s Lower East Side. Its founding members, Irish immigrants and US natives, initially came together to promote themselves as a new vanguard of singer/songwriters around Greenwich Village.
This revival of great songsmithery is spearheaded by Mark Dignam, Jenna Nicholls, Michael Brunnock, and Brendan O’ Shea. These four; excellent performers in themselves, have come together and have invited friends forming one collective, to share, ideas, resources and costs freeing up members to concentrate on the creative processes of writing and performing."



Mark Dignam - Manhatten Skyline

Glen & Marketa singing Van Morrison Classic!

This week on Jools Holland the oscar winning pair Glen Hansard of the Frames and Marketa Irglova performed a wonderful acoustic version of the Van Morrison classic "Into The Mystic". Here is the performance!

5 Friday Favourites!

I have decided to have at least 2 regular weekly features. On Tuesday we have Ruby Tuesday where I highlight the music of a new and unsigned artist from the web or MySpace. On Friday I will post a mini selection of 5 Friday Favourites of tunes to get you into the groove for the weekend ahead!

5 Friday Favourites Part 1.

Counting Crows - Mr. Jones mp3 MySpace
Heather Nova - Walk This World (Live)mp3 MySpace
The Darkness - Friday Night mp3 MySpace
Mark Geary - Suzanna mp3 MySpace
The Pony Club - The Truth About Men (2) mp3 MySpace

Spring in2 Summer Mixtape!

About two weeks ago I said to a few people that the best thing about an early Easter is that Summer will arrive quicker. I'm beginning to feel that big time! I don't think I'm depressed in Winter but I love looking forward. It seems every week I'm planning a new gig to go to and I'm determined to go swimming in the Irish sea on regular basis this summer. In general I want to enjoy the summer of my 30th birthday in the best possible way.

Spring into Summer Mixtape!

1. Joseph Arthur - In The Sun [mp3][MySpace]
2. Eddie Vedder - Hard Sun
3. Yael Naim - New Soul [mp3][MySpace]
4. The Thorns - Runaway Feeling
5. Weezer - Island in the Sun
6. Mundy - Anchor the Sun
7. Violent Femmes - Blister in the Sun [mp3] [MySpace]
8. Sugar - If I Can't Change Your Mind
9. The Stereophonics - Have A Nice Day
10. The Zutons - Valerie
11. The High Llamas - The Old Spring Town
12. Michael Franti & Sperehead - Everyone Deserves Music
13. Ben Harper - She's Only Happy in the Sun
14. Calexico - Quattro (World Drifts in)[mp3] [MySpace]
15. Beirut - Postcards from Italy
16. Rodreigo y Gabrielle - Temple Bar
17. Kila - Dirty Wine Bottle: Charlotte's Web [mp3][MySpace]
18. Morcheeba - The Sea

A typical Summers Day In Ireland!



Yeah I'm really looking forward to this!

Ruby Tuesday Pt 1

I found a Jem of an artist....

Maeve O'Regan from Dublin is a piano based singer songwriter of exceptional talent.....i really have found a Jem and you all need to explore her MySpace page and send her some kudos. She describes her music as

"If Rufus, Regina and Amanda Palmer made babies in the toilet bowl of the ladies bathroom in The George. And those babies made music."

For non Irish readers The George is Dublins infamous gay bar! I do hear the Regina Spektor influences in the following song posted here but I think the sound is alot closer to Fiona Apple. The song Junkies Can't Swim here sounds so professional it deserve to be on a CD soon in your local record store. Also have a read on her page about how she met her drummer in Dublin! (A Sequal of Once maybe! ......called Twice!.....ok I'm being silly!)

maeve o regan - junkies cant swim [mp3]

If you like this track pop along to her MySpace and get another amazing tune from a star of the future!

Nothing wrong with Swearing!

I got a few hours early on Saturday to explore Dublins records stores. I found a CD single from Marie Doyle Kennedy called Fuckability. The tune is good but I think I bought it because of the original title. Maria Doyle Kennedy is a wonderful singer who was the black haired backing singer in The Commitments. It got me thinking anyway.....does a song with a swear (cuss) word in the title automatically mean its a good tune? Of course not .........how silly!

1. Senseless Things - Homophobic Asshole
2. Maria Doyle Kennedy - Fuckability [mp3] {myspace}
3. Lambchop - Your Fucking Sunny Day [mp3] {myspace}
4. Kate Nash - Dickhead [mp3] {myspace}
5. The Bird & the Bee - Fucking Boyfriend
6. Spherehead - Love is da Shit
7. Kathleen Edwards - Sure as Shit
8. Eamon - Fuck it.
9. Ani Difranco - Half-Assed
10. Liz Phair - Fuck and Run
11. The Eels - Old Shit/New Shit
12. Dr. Dre - Bitches Aint Shit
13. Martha Wainright - Bloody Mother Fucking Asshole [mp3] {myspace}

However what is completely f***ded up is the following........


FIVE NEWS on MySpace April 4th 2008 Friday

The Gutter Twins - 5 April Dublin

The Gutter Twins are a brand new band consisting of two of rock musics most accomplished performers, musicians and songwriters. Greg Duli, formally the frontman with The Afghan Whigs and The Twilight Singers{myspace} and owner of a wonderful voice takes central stage in this project. It is probably due to the fact that rock legend Mark Lanagan, former frontman with The Screaming Trees, part time collaborator with Isabell Campbell and British Alt Folk outfit Soulsavers, appears on stage so one dimensional on stage that he is known in music circles as the Leonard Cohan of Grunge.

Soulsavers: Revival [mp3] [myspace]

Before Christmas last I realised that the bands first performance together would be in the Bowery Ballroom NYC while we were visiting the city for the first time. hey were excellent then. Last night the band were so much better. They were more cohesive than they were in NYC. The set list consisted of the wonderful covers versions of Massive Attacks Live With Me, and Jose Gonzales "Down the Line".

The Gutter Twins: God's Children [mp3]

In fact an encore was something we were privileged to have. Apparently the LA crowd during the week were denied an encore because as Greg Duli said....the LA crowd were "Bitches". If ya ever want the Irish to respond to ya....just pass us compliments. We cheered, applauded and lapped up the back catalogue that arrived during the seven song encore. Talking of back catalogue:

The Afghan Whigs: Gentleman [mp3] [myspace]

The Gutter Twins: All Misery/Flowers

Mash Ups!

Well I brought my twin boys to Judo for the first time tonight. They had a great time and are enthusiastic about next week already. Seemlessly im going from this to blogging about my favourite three mash-up tunes. For the record I think 90% of Mash-ups are a bad idea and simply dont do it for me. But in the following cases the mash-ups provide a new dimension on the tracks.

1. Party Ben (Police vs Snow Patrol) - Every Car You Chase [mp3]

2. The Cure vs Korn - Undone Lullaby [mp3]

3. The Beatles vs Duran Duran - Together Undone [mp3]

Live Music Archive

Also it's a good opportunity to introduce to you an amazing website Live Music Archive which has a comprehensive listing of thousands of concerts in MP3 format. Go and enjoy listening to the likes of David Gray, Josh Riter, Jack Johnson and Damien Rice live!

Mixtape to overcome Sadness!

1. Placebo ft David Bowie - Without You I'm Nothing [mp3] [myspace]
2. Staind - For You
3. Rob Dougan - I'm Not Driving Anymore
4. REM - Country Feedback
5. Elliot Smith - Everything Means Nothing To Me
6. Gillian Welch - Black Star [mp3] [myspace]
7. Tori Amos - Crucify
8. Mark Dignam - Glide
9. Enigma - Sadness
10. The Frames - Seven Day Mile [mp3] [myspace]
11. Laura Veirs - Don't Lose Yourself
12. Dar Williams - Farewell To The Old Me [mp3] [myspace]
13. Amos Lee - Shout Out Load
14. Duke Special - Freewheel
15. Aloe Blacc - I'm Beautiful
16. The Parlotones - Beautiful [mp3] [myspace]
17. Blue October - Inner Glow [mp3] [myspace]
18. Baz Lurhman - Sunscreen

The motivation for this mix is that no matter what your mood is, music can either enhance it, modify it or dissolve it. I begin with eight thought provoking songs. Then there is the beautiful song by Enigma. This is the start of tunes to make you look forward into the future to a new you and a new self image. I finish with the inspirational Sunscreen. Again if you are reading this and thinking ....hmmm I'd love his mix on cd just email and I can sort it out for ya. Also apart from the Mark Dignam tune remember you will be able to find all these tracks easily on itunes or amazon. Please if you love music try the tunes then support the artist by going to their gig or buying their CDs! Heres to happiness.....ENJOY!