xmas mix 2009 - the breakdown...

I woke up stupidly early this morning and couldn't get back to sleep, so decided to blog a breakdown of my 2009 mix cd, giving a bit of background as to why I picked each song... There's a playlist on spotify here (which is missing a couple of tracks but has most of them...)

1. Florence & the Machine - Dog days are over

My friend Elaine and I swap music recommendations regularly - she's got good taste so when she recommends a band to me, I know they're probably worth checking out. I'd heard of Florence + the Machine before, and liked what I'd heard, but not enough to get hold of the album. But following Elaine raving about her, I listened to the album and found myself loving it - especially this song which is the first track on the album.

2. Patrick Wolf - Overture

This was a random one I picked up from my friend Jen. I was feeling in the need for some new music, and she posted a facebook status referencing Patrick Wolf and Blood Red Shoes. It was when I'd first got Spotify, and I remember listening to "The Magic Position" on repeat all afternoon. I saw him at Dot to Dot festival at May where he was suitably glittery and awesome.

3. Beirut - Scenic World

I can't remember where I first heard Beirut. I quite liked them, but something didn't quite click. Then one day I was sitting playing board games in my local pub and this album (The Gulag Orkestar) came on and I was filled with love for it (Much the same as my Broken Social Scene conversion last year). Makes regular appearances in my daily listening now...

4. The Miserable Rich - Pisshead

I got a text from a friend I hadn't seen in a while telling me that there was a gig on at The Croft and did I want to go. The headliners weren't a band I was particularly enthused about, but I thought it'd be a good chance to catch up so I said yes. The first band on were not bad, and then The Miserable Rich came on. They were great. Really great. The headliners were predictably underwhelming, but it was worth it to see these guys. And then they gave me a free cd at the end of the night. Bonus.

5. Mumford and Sons - The cave

I'm sure anyone who reads this will know all about my love of Mumford and Sons. Their folk rock with a hint of bluegrass is top of my favourite music at the moment. Toe tapping, catchy and full of soul. I've seen them twice this year and loved them both times - they put on a great show, come across as genuinely nice guys, and are clearly passionate about their music. "Sigh No More" is without a doubt my album of the year...

6. Bon Iver - Skinny Love

When my friend Piet first moved to America, we tried to set up an Anglo American mix cd exchange (to match the one running here), which sadly never got going. However, on the facebook page, his friend Jon recommended a bunch of bands. One of his recommendations was Bon Iver. I got hold of the album and gave it a listen. I liked it. However, during the snow last year, my mp3 player had died and the only way I could listen to music was via my phone, and "For Emma, Forever Ago" was one of the albums I had on it. I remember the precise moment I fell in love with this album - I was walking along the edge of the downs, towards Whiteladies Road. Heartbreakingly beautiful...

7. City and Colour - The girl

My discovery of City and Colour is also thanks to the aforementioned Jon. "Bring Me Your Love" is an album that everyone should listen to. Brilliant. It's an album I keep going back to again and again and and I often find myself listening to this track on repeat.

8. The National - Slow show

I first heard The National courtesy of an old housemate a few years ago. I remember thinking "Ah yes, they're not bad". I've had an album of theirs on my mp3 player ever since, without listening to it much. And then during my recent spate of walking around Bristol at night doing some writing and taking photos, I put on "Boxer" and listened to it on repeat for 2 1/2 hours. And now I can't stop listening to it.

9. Laura Marling - Ghosts

I started listening to Laura Marling because I kept seeing articles about Mumford and Sons that mentioned her. And I haven't stopped listening to her since. Astoundingly talented for her age (she wrote "Alas I cannot swim" when she was 16 or 17), her music stands out amongst the other female singer songwriters around at the moment. I can't stop listening to this song and never seem to get sick of it... Am mostly very excited about seeing her in April!

10. Jay Jay Pistolet - Happy birthday you

Again, discovered via the Mumford and Sons/Laura Marling connection, and cemented by seeing his Black Cab Session, it's more of the modern folky stuff that I love at the moment. As far as I know he only has a four track EP at the moment, but it's definately worth checking out.

11. Johnny Flynn - Eyeless in Holloway

Woo Johnny! Yet another of the Mumford and Sons/Laura Marling group of musicians, "A Larum" is one of my favourite albums I've discovered this year. Catchy, distinctive and a bit different. I saw him at The Cube this year and was captivated by his incredible guitar playing. Beautiful.

12. Frightened Rabbit - Old old fashioned

I saw Frightened Rabbit supporting Death Cab for Cutie last year and enjoyed the set, but it wasn't until early this year that I got hold of "The Midnight Organ Fight". I love it when you can hear an accent in someone's singing voice, and you can definately hear the Scottish twang with these guys. Toe tapping fun.

13. PJ & Gaby - Time well spent

Ah this one is a good story. I went to Cafe Kino with one of my friends for a cup of tea and a spot of backgammon. Turns out they had a gig on (in true Kino style, it was about 25 people crammed into the teeny back room), and we were sat on our own in the other downstairs room. As we were playing backgammon, I kept getting distracted by the music playing in the other room. At the end of the gig, I went into the other room. Suddenly being faced by a whole load of people and having no idea who the musicians were, I had to ask who was in the band (a duo from London). Once I'd identified, I proceeded to buy two cds from these guys. Random but awesome.

14. Wild Beasts - All the kings men

This band ruined my playlist for this year. I had it all sorted and ready to go, and then a few days later in the pub, my friend Jonny recommended these guys to me. So I dutifully went home and listened, sighed and then tried to work out who I'd have to bump off the cd to make room for them (sorry Slow Club). At first I wasn't sure about the guys voice, but it's really grown on me...

15. Coconut Records - West coast

Another recommendation by Jon, this song stands out on an album that itself is pretty darn good ("Nighttiming"). Coconut Records is the band of actor Jason Schwartzman, proving he has many talents by actually being pretty good. Was destined to make it onto this mix from the first time I heard it.

16. Emmy the Great - Dylan

No idea where I discovered Emmy the Great, so thankyou if you recommended her to me. I remember watching her Black Cab Session several times and loving it, before getting the album. She writes some truly suprising lyrics - a song that at first listen sounds lovely and pretty may actually turn out to be about something really dark... Sadly I was too ill to make it to her gig in Bristol this year, but hopefully I'll catch her soon. Definately give "First Love" a listen, and then listen to it again, carefully.

17. Spoon - I summon you

An introduction from my friend Dave, via Black Cab Sessions. A group of us were sat at my friend Geoff's flat, infront of his huge tv screen, playing about on his computer (who needs a monitor when you have a forty something inch tv). I shared the joy of Black Cab Sessions with everyone and we started watching some sessions. Browsing through the list of artists, Dave suggested Spoon. And that was it. "Gimme Fiction" became a regular listen, but this song still remains my favourite...

18. Brendan Benson - What I'm looking for

Again, a mystery as to where this one originated from. I just started listening to him one day. Slightly poppy rock, he does it really well. Not my favourite music, but I just really enjoy it.

19. John Butler Trio - Better than

On a car journey back from a youth group weekend away, my friend Mike and I discovered a common taste in music. This led to a bunch of recommendations being made either way, and one of his was the John Butler Trio. "Grand National" is a great album, with this song being my favourite - I love the rhythm of it and it always puts a smile on my face.

20. Dispatch - The general

Another of Mike's recommendations. A band with a lot to say, but sadly only a few albums to their name (although all three members now have other projects). A reggae/ska/funk/rock fusion, the music is matched by well written and often thought provoking songs. "Bang Bang" is probably my favourite album so give it a listen.

21. The XX - Islands

Recommended by one of the guys on my Masters, I fell in love with The XX on first listen. Their self titled debut is a wonderful album, and up there in my top 5 of this year. I'm a sucker for bands with male and female vocals and these guys do it really well.