There's an elite club, and in that club is a group of people who know that The Dovers, 'What Am I Going To Do', stands up there with all the great 60's standards. As hearbreaking as The Righteous Brothers, as symphonic as The Beach Boys, as jangle-tastic as The Byrds and as effortless as The Beatles. If you're a 60's freak and have never heard it, it's the best song ever.
While i'm at it, here are two other massively neglected (by commercial radio at least) 60's songs that get me hot and botherin...
featuring my fave guitar riff-
nerd alert - these guys pretty much invented garage-rock.
That is of course except when Wilco release a new album on 'em. Track 1 displays they haven't lost either their melodic chops or an affinity for the Kosmiche...
Also out today is the full length debut from Twin Sister. Just a shame it didn't include one of my favourite pop songs of the last few years (bloody great Tom Tom Club-esque vid too).
Just been speaking to John S (by the wonder of email) and we agree, that NEVER have we heard a band rip off Magic Alex as much as these guys do. I am literally on the phone to our solicitor as i write this.
Only joking, bloody lovely this innit? Enjoy your weekend kids.
So, for my last birthday my nearest and dearest clubbed together and got me a lovely VW Golf run-around. So happy was I with the gift,that it took me a while to realise, shit, it's only got a tape player. After cursing myself for throwing out ALL my tapes 5 or so years ago, i quickly sent a Facebook plea round for donations. My biggest donation ended up coming from myself, in so much as my mum still kept all the tapes i made for her in the mid 90's when i first moved to London.
Amidst a lot of really dull dross, which i apologise for inflicting on my mum (stand up Suede, Boo Radleys, Arnold - who? don't worry, you didn't miss anything), i was reminded of some lovely gems. Like...
I've decided that this is in the top ten folkpsychepop songs ever. And
despite just making this spurious genre up, i think you'll agree.
When this blasted onto the car stereo, the sun came out, coincidence? not fucking likely.
I used to tell everyone (who'd listen) that Eric Matthews was going to be MASSIVE. He was the missing link between The Zombies and Nirvana, he was a baroque-pop master. Actually, i was talking nonsense, he had one great collaborative album (the sorely underheard Cardinal album with ace Aussie Richard Davies) and one great solo album, of which this was the best song.
I was seriously into Power-Pop back in the mid 90's (as my old mixtapes have ably demonstrated to me), thinking back, i spent about 2 years, constantly stoned listening to Raspberries albums, which, by the way, is not big OR clever. Anyways, i thought power-pop was heading for a big revival and these were the band to do it. It wasn't though, and they weren't.
Finally, Salako. I bloody loved Salako, funny & poignant lyrics, schizophrenic musicality & better than the Beta Band (yes, really) - here's a chance to 'get with the program'.
I've posted about Girls before and here they are with album number 2. A quick playback reveals a depth and beauty that suggests this is another album of the year contender. It maybe a little 'classic rock' for some, but as the leaves fall outside my window this seems like an aural single malt to me. See for yourself with the opening number.
It astonishes me how many people I come in contact with who have never heard of Annie Clark aka St Vincent. So, if you haven't lets start with an awesome Beatles cover
And if you thought the 'fretwork' was pretty awesome, check this cover of a Big Black classic for one of the very few youtube clips where i REALLY wish i was 'at that gig'..
Of course, if she didn't write her own amazing material then none of this would really matter. So, here's my favourite pop song of the last 5 years (produced by the incredible John Congleton)
St Vincent have an album out in a few weeks (via the back on form 4AD) - do you think the time has come for Annie?
