Dead Flowers: Discoveries of 2006

[Download the mix in .rar format]
The mix was taken down to avoid copyright issues. Email me for a copy.

When a year proves to be rather lackluster for new music, as 2006 no doubt did, it's a good excuse to explore the musical archives. With so much music out there, one is always discovering songs 5 years (and in some cases 30 years) too late. Here are 10 songs that I came to appreciate over the course of the year:


1. The Rolling Stones: "Bitch"
2. The Rolling Stones: "Loving Cup"
3. The Rolling Stones: "Love in Vain"
I know, I know: having a self-proclaimed music "expert" like myself tell you that he just discovered The Rolling Stones is a little like your doctor admitting he failed freshman Biology. Nevertheless, for the sake of full disclosure, 2006 was the year I went from Stones fan to full-on obsessive.

4. Blur: "Gene by Gene"
5. Blur: "Mellow Song"
I can't escape my past when it comes to Blur--I'm on record criticizing their last two albums, "13" and "Think Tank," as aimless nonsense. Turns out I was completely wrong. They're brilliant--maybe even their best albums. With these albums, Damon traded cheekiness for soul, buried his still-brilliant melodies so that only dedicated listeners could find them, and turned up Alex James. In doing so, he showed why he's the premier talent in music today.

6. Ash: "A Life Less Ordinary"
Ash's grunge-y anthem is infinitely better than the movie of the same name. An essential summer tune.
7. Bang Gang: "Find What You Get"
8. Mum: "Green Grass of Tunnel"
Taken from the "Screaming Masterpiece" soundtrack, these songs by Icelandic groups successfully walk the line between experimentation and melodicism.

9. Amiina: Blaskjar
10. Sigur Ros: Se Lest
Despite being one of the first people in America to own their debut single "Svefn g englar" and despite playing their album "( )" to death, I got off to a rocky start with "Takk." Sure, I understood the singles, but the quieter moments had me stumped. After I watched some live shows and gave the songs time to seep in, "Takk" quickly became my favorite Sigur Ros effort. Because the quieter songs are heavily influenced by collaborators Amiina, once I appreciated tunes like "Se Lest," Amiina's singles became an essential purchase as well.

See you in 2007
-Mick

Buy Buy Buy:

The Good, The Bad and The Queen:Myspace Show

Kingdom of Doom:

80s Life:

Herculean:

Interview:


[On Myspace]
[Paste Magazine Article]
[Filter Album Review]
[Fan Site]

Pete Stabs Carl in the Back

From Rolling Stone:

There are many things to love about Carl Barat: His songwriting talent, the impossibly cool boots he wears, his admirable unwillingness to shit-talk a certain drug-doing, model-banging, train wreck of a former bandmate. Pete, on the other hand, does not return the favor (and his boots aren’t nearly as cool). Doherty has reportedly said that the only thing he misses about Barat is the great crack he used to score for Pete, and that Barat’s new band, Dirty Pretty Things, suck, especially when compared to Doherty’s Babyshambles. “We really got it. All he’s got is the fact that he was in the best band and now he’s in the worst band. And he needs to sort that out,” Doherty reportedly sniffed.

Let's remember the good ol' days...

"Time For Heroes"

Jake Drake's Best of 2006

1. Devandra Banhart-Cripple Crow
2. Darker My Love- Darker My Love
3. Cold War Kids- Robbers & Cowards

4. Yeah Yeah Yeahs-Show Your Bones
5. Arctic Monkeys-Whatever People Say I Am, That's What Im Not
6. The Young Knives-Voices of Animals & Men
7. Be Your Own Pet- BYOP

8. The Horrors- The Horrors
9. Catfish Haven- Tell Me
10. The Shys- Astoria
11. The Long Blondes- Someone To Drive You Home
12. Babyshambles-Down In Albion

13. The Strokes- First Impressions Of Earth
14. Secret Machines- Silver Drops
15. Tapes N Tapes- The Loon
16. Built To Spill-You In Reverse
17. Sound Team- Movie Monster

18. Grizzly Bear- Yellow House
19. Albert Hammond Jr.- Yours To Keep
20. Tk Webb- Phantom Parade

Thom Yorke: From The Basement (Redux)

Not long ago, Dead Flowers posted the quite nice Thom Yorke performances that were part of the "From The Basement" series. Sadly, although rather predictably, they were quickly removed from Youtube. The good news is that the videos for "Down is the New Up" and "Videotape" are available on itunes for the reasonable price of $1.99 each. Click the link below to head to the store:



Have a listen to "Videotape":

[Download the Mp3]

[From the Basement Website]

The US and Mew: Frengers Forever

The NME Reports:

Mew have announced that their album 'Frengers' will finally be released in the United States on January 23 of next year.

The Danish quartet originally released the predecessor to this year's 'And The Glass Handed Kites' in the UK and Europe in April 2003, but the album had never officially arrived Stateside.

Now Columbia Records will bring 'Frengers' - which the band says is a combination of the words "friends" and "strangers" - for US audiences.

Here's what I said about the album in my 2003 wrap-up (I chose it as album of the year):

This is for those of you who thought intelligent, big-sounding indie rock disappeared when Billy Corgan shaved his head. “Frengers” was tragically overlooked by the NME crowd and just about everyone else, but truly it’s their loss. Each one of the 10 tracks here is bursting with ideas and life affirming gourgeousness, the best example of which is the absolutely brilliant opening track “Am I Wry? No”. Indeed, it was possible to live months with this album and discover some new hidden treasure with each listen. It just goes to show the revolution isn’t going to come from some beer-soaked Australian thugs, but it might just come from Denmark.

[Official Site]

Am I Wry? No (Promo):

The Radio Dept: Live in Peru

Listen to "Ewan":

[Download the set here]

[Link from Chrome Waves]

Liam: Smart Magazine (Japan)

[More]

Amina: Boga (New Song)

[Download the Mp3 at Amiina Music]

The Arcade Fire: Intervention

Listen to the new song (Radio rip from BBC):

[Download the track @ You Ain't No Picasso]

Dead Flowers: The Best of 2006

Mix Tracklist:
1. Primal Scream-Country Girl
2. Belle and Sebastian-Another Sunny Day
3. Mojave 3-Breaking the Ice
4. Babyshambles-Beg, Steal or Borrow
5. Gruff Rhys ft. Lisa Jen-Candylion
6. Cat Power-Living Proof
7. Asobi Seksu-Thursday
8. Vietnam-Welcome to my Room
9. The Delta Spirit-Crippler King
10. Primal Scream-When the Bomb Drops
11. Serena Maneesh-Drain Cosmetics

[Download the Mix in .rar Format]
[Use winrar to unpack the file]


Primal Scream: Riot City Blues (Album)
The Scream now know that it's not enough to emulate the sound of your heroes. You have to emulate their spirit as well. So while "Give out But Don't Give Up" failed as an ode to "Exile," "Riot City Blues" is an outright success. And the Maggie-May aping "Country Girl" was single of the year.

Listen to "Country Girl":

[Download the MP3 Here]

Belle and Sebastian: Another Sunny Day (Song)
When Stuart Murdoch and Co. traded in twee for camp, they pretty much lost this reviewer. But this is a bit of a return to form: pretty harmonies on top of some quality jingle-jangle. Throw in some Burrito-Brothers guitar work and a ridiculous middle-8, and it all adds up to one of the year's best songs.





Mojave 3: Puzzles Like You (Album)
There's not much not to like on this record, in which former Slowdivers make an album like Belle and Sebastian used to make. If straight up guitar pop is your thing, then you'll probably love this one.





Babyshambles: The Blinding (EP)
Definitely a step in the right direction from Pete and Co. Discovering the virtues of a little production and backing off the jarring desperation of "Down in Albion," this EP provides some memorable melodic moments.




Gruff Rhys: Candylion (Song)
Super Furry frontman wins big with this acoustic gem and accompanying hilarious video.




Cat Power: Living Proof (Song)
While the album was a bit of snooze-fest, this Dylan-esque single was one of the year's indisuptable highlights. Chan Marshall's voice has never sounded sexier, and Harmony Korine's absurd video spared us from her new-found dancing "talents."





Asobi Seksu: Thursday (Song)
While slumming it in Brooklyn, Julee Cruise writes the theme song to an anime movie. At least, that's what it sounds like to me.





Vietnam: Welcome to my Room (Song)
An old-fashioned barn burner from the up-and-coming retro rockers.




The Morning After Girls: Shadows Evolve (Album)
This is the album for those who:
Like the Brian Jonestown Massacre in theory, but find their albums boring.
Hate the Dandy Warhols, but like that "Brown Sugar" rip-off they sold to a cell-phone company.
Ok, I'm being hard on The Morning After Girls. Even if their album sounds like the best "Rock Hits of the '90s" compilation you've never heard, they've put together a fine collection of songs.





The Delta Spirit: I Think I've Found It (EP)
San Diego rockers take the Libertines/Strokes blueprint and make it their own.



Serena Maneesh: Drain Cosmetics (Song)
This is the song Andy Bell of Ride should've made when he became obsessed with The Rolling Stones.




Biggest Disappointment:

DJ Shadow: The Outsider
Most respected artists become more difficult as time goes by. Shadow goes in the opposite direction, making an album of trip-hop lite and pointless collaborations. Reinvention never sounded so bland.




Collective Shrug:

Thom Yorke: The Eraser
It seems that Thom needs Jonny more than he realizes. There was nothing wrong with this album, but there was nothing to recommend it either. The live performances are worth seeking out though.





Thanks for being around for the birth of Dead Flowers! You can expect much more in the months and years to come..

-Mick, December 2006

Year-end Lists

NME puts together a perfectly predictable list of albums from bands that have (shock) been on the cover of the NME.


The NME Singles List is a bit better, but still predictable.

Here's the Guardian's list.


BBC Collective, on the other hand, puts together a much more exciting list, including Marcel Dzama and Love is All. It's worth a look.


And be sure and have a listen to the Sound Opinions year-end podcast. The show is the best thing on Chicago Public Radio besides Diane Rehm:


Visit tomorrow, when Dead Flowers will post my best of 2006 mix, complete with a track-by-track rundown.

Babyshambles: The Culture Show (12.09.06)

And the promo:

Q&A with Pete in The Guardian

Here's a preview:

What is your earliest memory?
Falling over a rabbit.

What do you most dislike about your appearance?
Not enough hats.

How would you like to be remembered?
Vaguely, with fondness.

[Read The Whole Story]

Blur: Music is My Radar (TOTP)

Music for one apartment and six drummers

(Thanks U.S.)

Gruff Rhys: Candylion

Promo:


[Download the MP3]
[On Myspace]

Dead Flowers Now Hosting Pete's Latest Acoustic Session

Dead Flowers, blessed with gigabytes to burn, is pleased to offer Pete Doherty's latest acoustic session, the "Stookie + Jim Bumfest Demos." Terrible name, great collection of songs.

Tracklist:
1.There she goes (a little Heartache)
2.Crumb begging baghead
3.New love grows on trees
4.Unbilotitled
5.Unstookietitled
6.Carry on up the morning
7.Cuckoo 1440
8.Delivery
9.A fool there was

[Download The Session as a .rar file]
[Use Winrar to unpack the file]

Tom Hunter: Living in Hell [Photography]

[Interview @ BBC Collective]

The Littl'ans feat. Pete Doherty: Their Way

[Download the MP3]
[Littl'ans on Myspace]

Tony Wilson and Morrissey

Then:


Now:
[Link]

(Thanks BigBoots)

The Tears: Refugees (Jonathan Ross)

It's Called Jetlag, Douchebags

Razorlight in Polonium scare

Paul MacInnes
Wednesday December 6, 2006
Guardian Unlimited

Razorlight are still alive. This is the latest news from White Trouser Towers despite the revelation that the band flew back from a recent tour of Russia on one of those Polonium planes that have been interesting experts in radioactivity.

A source tells Newton's Victoria Bizarre: "The lads were terrified. They were all feeling run down when they got back from Russia; then switched on the TV and found out the plane they had been on was grounded in the radiation scare. They feared the worst and immediately called their management for advice."

David Bowie & Iggy Pop: Funtime

(Thanks Jake Drake)

Blur's "Think Tank" Reconsidered

It's to Damon's credit that his albums, while sometimes seeming like grave errors at the outset, somehow stick around and reveal their brilliance over time. So it goes with "Think Tank," a grower much like its predecessor "13". "Crazy Beat" still sucks, though.

Here are some videos for your (re)consideration...

On the Way to the Club:

Caravan:

Gene by Gene:

Echo and the Bunnymen: Killing Moon (Live)

Quote of the Week: Noel Gallagher

"I don't like the Take That shtick, but they seem like nice guys. The thing is, it's like Big Brother or Justin Timberlake or Celebrity Love Island. If you live with a woman, you have to take an interest because it's women's culture. I have to listen to Take That and Justin Timberlake. I'd like to sneak upstairs and watch a documentary about how the Nazis brainwashed sharks into attacking Allied ships, but I can't."

(Thanks SCYHO)

The Smiths:There is a Light That Never Goes Out (Instrumental)

Listen:

[Download]

(Thanks BigBoots)

Thom Yorke: The Clock (Update! From Jools 12.01.06)

Mojave 3: The Interface (Podcast)

Listen:

[Link]