mariachi-el-bronx

After a break that may or may not have been more than just a week, Spotted Dick is back once again. The simple and pretty widely used idea is that we’ve built a playlist on spotify of new songs, slightly not so new songs, new discoveries and just plain old bangers for you to enjoy at will. Maybe this here Spotted Dick could also be used to “launch” the new .co.uk side of ths site. Personally, the upgrade to becoming www.itsnotforthecock.co.uk feels like I’ve finally tossed away the Velcro trainers and am swanning around flaunting my new shoelaced bad boys. Feels pretty good, let me tell you. Spotify, you great entity- what have you got for us today?

http://open.spotify.com/user/g-town/playlist/6SiN8mXqLxU4oOjqDsjKGI

 

Simian Mobile Disco- ‘Cream Dream’

This, the opener from latest SMD album ‘Temporary Pleasure’, is a brilliant slab of dance pop with 80s sheen and nostalgia running through its core. A better soundtrack for sliding around the bathroom floor and singing to the steamed up mirrors there has rarely been. I mean, what?

 

Mike Snow- ‘Animal’ (Crookers remix)

What a stomper. Placed nicely somewhere between a tribal chant and a party encompassing the whole world, this song can’t fail to raise at least a smile. Unless you’re dead inside of course. You dead inside?

 

Health- ‘Die Slow’

From Health’s new album ‘Get Colour’, this previous single is insane. The delightful combination of the sound of electronic synths shuddering collectively, guitars seemingly  vomiting and some ghostly, eerie vocals creeping about the song all make pretty much essential listening.

 

Lovvers- ’1-2-3-4 Count’

Really there is nothing particularly original about the kind of racket Lovvers make, but what they lack in that department they more than make up for with vitality, energy and raw aggression. Fantastic stuff.

 

White Denim- ‘Sat What You Want’

This song is perhaps the perfect example of White Denim’s latest album ‘Fits’ and how wildly it flings itself across the spectrum of musical genres. Going from a thundering, threatening, riff tastic opening to a gentle arpeggio breakdown then onto a crazed sitar trance ending should not be possible let alone enjoyable but, somehow, it works so perfectly it hurts a little.

 

Dananananakroyd- ‘Watch This’

What reason could possibly needed to play this band? Listen and think fondly of two super enthusiastic singers jumping around, the wall of cuddles and mass singalongs. If you’ve not seen them live before, listen and be sad.

 

The Dodos- ‘Fables’

The new album from The Dodos was leaked online quite a lot of time before its official release so they had to stream it for free online anyway. A sign o’ the times? Anyway, enough tittle tattle- this is a beautiful example of the soaring and floaty pop The Dodos are capable of.

 

The Big Pink- ‘Velvet’

The Big Pink’s debut album is something of a hit and miss affair with some songs that sweep you off your feet and others that keep you firmly on your feet while you wait, annoyed, for the song to finish. ‘Velvet’ is an example of what the band are capable of when at their best and with a little work, and perhaps a step away from the hype, hopefully The Big Pink will come back with an album full of this kind beautiful shoegazy pop.

 

Jamie T- ‘Spider’s Web’

‘Kings and Queens is, on the whole, a great, great album. This song- particularly the way new layers and beats are slowly revealed verse by verse, is one of the highlights of the album.

 

Vampire Weekend- ‘Walcott’

Vampire Weekend recently revealed that their second album will be called ‘Contra’  and will be released on the 12th January 2010. As they’re one of the finest- and most interesting- pop bands around currently, this should come as pretty exciting news.

 

LCD Sondsytem- ‘Too Much Love’

In similarly exciting news, LCD Soundsystem are also cooking up a new album for us all to get hungry for. ‘Too Much Love’, with it’s pulsating, unforgiving, fucked-up, escalating rythms, is a perfect example of what James Murphy is capable of and why the third album- set to be released in March- is such a mouth watering prospect.

 

The XX- ‘Shelter’

With the sultry vocals, the simple but effective guitar parts and general sense of dark sexiness- this is a perfect example of why the debut from The XX is worth a listen or a thousand.

 

James Yuill- ‘No Surprises’

This is just a very nice song which sounds it should soundtrack those truly, deeply meaningful and happy moments in life. Like when you’re shopping at the supermarket and the person at the checkout doesn’t scan one of your items so you pay 49p less than you should. Man, I love that.

 

Bombay Bicycle Club- ‘Dust on The Ground’

What a band. Once you get over the fact that at such a young age they have already achieved more than you ever will, you will realise that their debut album ‘I Had The Blues But I Shook Them lose’ is a beautiful, ambitious and fantastic piece of work.

 

Outkast- ‘B.O.B’

A pretty damn fine song right? We can all agree on that. But pitchfork.com went one further and named it the best song of this decade recently in one of their many lists. Hmmmm…..

 

Super Furry Animals- ‘Golden Retriever’

I can’t remember why this song is on here or what I was going to say about it. Doesn’t matter- just listen to the jubilance!

 

Mariachi El Bronx- ‘Litigation’

Hardcore punk band The Bronx have turned their hands to sun kissed, flamenco influenced, Mexican stylings that dominate their native Los Angeles. And guess what? They’re pretty fucking good at it too!

 

Banjo or Freakout ‘Someone Great’ (LCD Soundsystem Cover)

Not only do they have one of the best names in recent memory, they’ve also done a fantastically eerie, spooky version of the classic LCD number.

 

Au Revoir Simone- ‘Shadows’

From the recent album ‘Still Night, Still Light’, this is a great little Postal Service-esque song full of fine strokes of glittering synths and gorgeous vocals. Result.

 

M83- ‘Graveyard Girl’

The electro meets shoegaze stylings of this song (wispy vocals, whirring guitars, swooping backdrops) is the kind of thing that makes you feel part of an 80s teen film and all the better for it. When the brilliantly emo speaking parts ask you “I’m 15 years old and I feel it’s already too late to live…don’t you?” do you feel like screaming out “Yes I do!” and start crying? No me neither.

 

http://open.spotify.com/user/g-town/playlist/6SiN8mXqLxU4oOjqDsjKGI