Went down a bit of a Meat Loaf rabbit hole, as you do. I didn't know he should have sang Bonnie Tyler's Total Eclipse of The Heart. Would have loved to have heard his take on that. Also, on Bat Of Of Hell II, the British singer Lorraine Crosby didn't receive any royalties for the vocals she sang at the end of I'd Do Anything For Love. Both the single and the album sold a gagillion copies, so that sucks.
Who did I listen to most this week? #lastfm says: Gary Numan (39), Suede (27), New Model Army (21), a-ha (20) & The Waterboys (14) [via lastweekly]
On Just Missing Gary Numan
You know how there are artists from your youth that, for one reason or another, you just haven't seen live? Gary Numan is one such artist.
I played his records to death in my bedroom as a kid. He released a live box set called Living Ornaments '79 and '80 that I played over and over and over. I still listen to it, albeit on Spotify these days, in fact it's in my top five most listened to albums.
Because I live in a cave I didn't really pay attention to his 2024 tour schedule that closely. I think I saw he was playing with Ministry and there was some talk of separate break away solo shows? Or something.
Last week I REALLY paid attention because I saw he was playing at the Crescent Ballroom in Phoenix in April. That's next month, but really, how popular could he be in Phoenix eh? Could it be after all these years?
No. No it couldn't. For the show is completely sold out. Snooze you most certainly lose. I just have to hope that 2024 is not the year he retires. Boo.
I used to post these every week on the Tweeters but I don't really do that any more. So a new thing here every Friday. Who did I listen to most this week? #lastfm says: a-ha (58), Beastie Boys (29), The Stranglers (21), Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft (17) & Half Man Half Biscuit (17) [via lastweekly].
Music Walking Videos
I love music videos that are just cool walkabouts, don't you? A few of my favorites then.
VNV Nation – When Is The Future?
Bruce Springsteen – Streets Of Philadelphia
The Verve – Bittersweet Symphony
And Of course. Massive Attack – Unfinished Sympathy
German Sequencing
Alex Ball is the brains behind one of my favorite YouTube channels. If you're into vintage synths as much as I am, his videos are a must watch.
His most recent video is a delight as he recreates the sequencer sounds used on Der Mussolini by DAF, and Los Niños Del Parque by Liasons Dangereuses.
Of course this then took me down a DAF rabbit hole on Spotify as I went through their back catalogue. The are worse places to be.
On Finding New Music
I was really happy to learn about the Search Engine podcast. It's hosted by P. J. Vogt – one of the guys behind the also quite good and yet defunct Reply All. Each week he attempts to answer a question. And they're a lot of fun.
In catching up with episodes from last year the "how am I supposed to find new music now that I'm old and irrelevant?" one caught my eye.
Interesting hearing how you form an emotional attachment to music in your teens and early twenties. By the time you hit your thirties it's harder for new things to stick, and you gravitate more to the things that made up the soundtrack to your youth. And it's true, I find myself still listening to those formative years a lot.
I didn't agree 100% with the narrative that it's hard to discover new music these days. In many ways I think it's a lot easier than it ever was. That's probably worthy of a post in and of itself actually. The kids these days have no idea how easy they've got it.
In 2006 I discovered last.fm. Keeping track of everything I listen to was immediately appealing to me and something I continue to this day. But it was so much more than that. It was one of the early social sites. You had neighbors. Like minded individuals who shared the same taste in music. Being nosy about what they had listened to was all part of the fun. last.fm also had one of the first recommendation engines giving users their first introduction to a lot of new bands. It changed the game somewhat.
Fast forward to 2024 and I've been fully invested in the music streaming lifestyle for a number of years now. Spotify is actually pretty good with recommendations. The 'Discover Weekly' playlist comes out every Monday which I've found to be a goldmine. Also if you're listening to a band there will be an insta-playlist generated called, say, 'Depeche Mode Radio' made up of bands that are similar. Taking what last.fm pioneered and raising it a level.
So I'd say we've got it pretty good if you know where to look. It sure beats taping Radio One in my bedroom on a Sunday Evening as a 14 year old. Good heavens, remember when the radio actually played good music?
As a closing side note, PJ thinks he's old. He's 37. Oh you Millennials.
Blancmange Electric Sound Live Sessions
I've loved Blancmange since I first heard Living On The Ceiling when I was a kid. Neil still records and his recent albums have been a delight. I'd completely missed this Electric Sound live session when it came out at the end of 2022.
The extended seven song set can be found here. If you're a fan of electronic music in any way, you'll be in for a treat.
last.fm Year In Review
last.fm have their own year in review called last.year. Not only is it far more comprehensive than Spotify Wrapped, but they do it right by acknowledging that December is a month that exists.
So here's mine. I listened to more music in 2023 compared to the previous year. 24,053 listens. Comprised of 2,552 artists, 4705 albums, and 9,644 unique tracks.
I was going to come up with a "my favorite albums of 2023" but I must admit I haven't really paid attention to new releases and have a lot of catching up to do.
That said, albums from 2023 that I did listen to and recommend are:
Ladytron – Time's Arrow
Depeche Mode – Memento Mori
Blur – The Ballad Of Darren
Sleaford Mods – UK Grimm
Looking forward to all the songs in my ears 2024 edition.
Sinfonia
New Model Army went to Berlin in July 2022, and with the help of the Sinfonia Leipzig Orchestra, played the most amazing gig. How much do I wish I was there?
The Sinfonia album was released this year and you should go listen to it. An experience that will make the hair on the back of your neck stand up. Justin's voice has aged like fine wine.