Rino's favourite tracks of 2011

A little while ago I put a call out for anyone who wanted to post their favourite music of 2011 on the blog (see sidebar for details - it's not too late). Fortunately, Rino answered the call with a hectic and eclectic list of old and new. Rino is an excellent writer who evades Skynet bots by publishing a blog composed on a typewriter and has released a brilliant book of music criticism called Song Logic which can be bought here. I'll let Rino explain the rest:

What’s an annual top ten list? It’s a list of music discovered (or rediscovered) in a year. I don’t go for too much cool new music, I just don’t get excited by most of it. I get kicks out of the old stuff

White Noise – Mogwai.
The strongest album opener I’ve heard in a long time. And also pure good Mogwai feel and power.

I Am Not Willing – Moby Grape
It’s a solid stoner cut, but I just love the power of the piano chords and drums and the lilting self-pity of the song.

The Bottle – Gil Scott-Heron
Social conscience was never so danceable. Step step step.

Lay All Your Love on Me – Abba
This is Abba at the pinnacle of their power. Secret of longevity: strong song chorus and dance beats. The melodic hook will stay but the beats mean future remixability. This song could go forever for me, especially with that mock-baroque synth line at the end.

All Night Long – Lionel Richie
Such a laid-back dance track. Killer chorus, fudged Caribbean accent, total 80s hit. He never got this good again, but he’s still big in the Middle East.

Chemtrails – Beck
Modern Guilt is such a neat & contained album, and this is the best on it. Great drumming and mood.

Video Games – Lana Del Rey
Because there haven’t been enough torch pop songs since Goldfrapp stopped doing ‘em. [That’s a big hint, Alison]. But here’s a hip new kind of song that sounds old and familiar (without too much kitsch). She’s only 25... a new take on Mazzy Star.

Only Living Boy in New York – Simon & Garfunkel
I blogged about this one – one of the best and feelingest songs about friendship. Ever. And the harmonies in the echo chamber – and the sweet bass – and the sheer love of it.

Walking Papers – Booker T Jones
Add ?uesto drums to the Booker Hammond and you’ve got funk in a bottle.

Cry Tough – Alton Ellis
This and the next cut came via Bob’s Theme Time Radio show. Such a great (Duke Reid) production – the way it references Dub but doesn’t cut in on a great song. Oh wait, that’s on the longer version of this song.

I Drink – Mary Gauthier
A small song that packs a huge emotional punch. So dry, knowing and hurting. The saddest laugh is at one’s own life.

Here’s the complete playlist at GrooveShark http://grooveshark.com/playlist/Rino+Does+2011/64957872
(except the Moby Grape cut – that’s here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9QwZBQz7XY)

cheers,
rino

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Got a list, submit that shit to metal.only.no.rubbish (at) gmail (dot) com

A song a day: Beck - Lonesome Tears

There comes a point in every musician's life where a significant romantic relationship ends for them and they produce the break up record - in Beck's case it is Sea Change. What's interesting is that when a musician goes through an emotional trauma, a lot of their music ends up sounding like Pink Floyd and it feels like Beck has taken his emotional cues from Comfortably Numb on Lonesome Tears. Sure, there's no searing guitar solo but the downbeat sound that echoes both The Wall and Wish You Were Here sonically seems to indicate that Beck regressed to the childhood comforts of 70's prog. That being said, the lyrics are a masterpiece of emotional devastation and isolation:

How could this love
Ever turning
Never turn its eye on me

When I first heard Beck I imagined some future version of the Big Chill where ageing Gen X-er's dance around the kitchen while singing the words to Loser. I guess that song will always signify Beck to many but for me Lonesome Tears is his greatest achievement.

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