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FluxCapacitor
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My Indie Pop Songs of 2007

Posted about 1 year ago
*1- The Cribs: Men's Needs*It's a sign of these metrosexual times that the pop world's most radical feminist is a man. In down-to-earth Northern English tones Ryan Jarmin gets real on the subject of sexual politics in _Men's Needs_. His narrator informs a girlfriend that "man's needs are full of greed...girl's needs just don't agree", and in doing so, probably ruins the chance of getting his leg over. Still, Jarmin's stinging lament makes for perfect pop: emotional turmoil delivered in a dance-along tune. Kelis's _Caught Out There (I Hate You So Much Right Now)_ has an unlikely new rival in the calling-men-out stakes."The Cribs' MySpace":http://www.myspace.com/thecribs
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Comments (34)

  1. FluxCapacitor
    FluxCapacitor says *2- GoodBooks: Leni*
    NME have described this electronic indie pop group from Kent, England as "the best new band in Britain." But don't let that put you off. _Leni_ is delicately sung and lovelorn, yet studded with one of the year's most rocket-like guitar riffs. And that scholarly band name? It was suggested after a gig by former underwear model, Holly Willoughby. Don't judge GoodBooks by their cover. "Goodbooks' gorgeous website":http://www.ilovegoodbooks.com/
    Permalink posted 01/02/2008
  2. FluxCapacitor
    FluxCapacitor says *3- The Maccabees: About Your Dress*
    A speeding boy racer of a tune that details a disastrous first date. The narrator starts out by calling his girl "the most beautiful sore thumb I've ever seen". He follows up the smooth-talk by burning her dress with a cigarette. The finale? He gets sick on top of her. How to explain away all that? Easy. "It's just what all young lovers do." And that's the really tragic thing. He's spot-on. "The Maccabees' MySpace":http://www.myspace.com/themaccabees
    Permalink posted 01/02/2008
  3. FluxCapacitor
    FluxCapacitor says *4- Eugene McGuinness: Monsters Under The Bed*
    McGuinness's protagonist in Monsters is suffering from multimedia fatigue. "I spent 5 hours on the Net last night," he confesses during the chorus, "avoiding the monsters under my bed with square eyes"..."[to the rest of my review]":http://mog.com/FluxCapacitor/blog_post/114237 "Eugene McGuinness' MySpace":http://www.myspace.com/eugenemcguinness85
    Permalink posted 01/02/2008
  4. FluxCapacitor
    FluxCapacitor says *5- Feist: 1234 (VanShe Technologic Remix)*
    2007 was the year of the electro remix. Highlights included - Metronomy's robotic _Foundations_ (Kate Nash) - SebastianAn's crunching _I Still Remember_ (Bloc Party) - Kissy Sell Out's epic _Chick Fit_ (All Saints - MSTRKRFT's rip-roaring D.A.N.C.E (Justice) - Phones' cheeky _Heinrich Maneuver_ (Interpol). VanShe Technologic's _1234_ stands out for me because it stayed in my iPod for the entire year -- a multipurpose tune I used for jogging, getting ready for a night out, and keeping the party going after falling home. Also, because there's a fine pop song underneath the crackle of electro, it was good for easy listening on the train or office. Had she released this herself, Feist wouldn't have needed an iPod ad to hit the mainstream...just iPods. "VanShe Technologic MySpace":http://www.myspace.com/vanshetech
    Permalink posted 01/02/2008
  5. FluxCapacitor
    FluxCapacitor says *6- Vampire Weekend: Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa*
    Don’t let that sing-a-long chorus or those playful afrobeats fool you. Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa is a song of seduction. A mating call as sincere and heartfelt as that of a Serengeti wildebeest who has returned from work of a Friday evening to find not one single message on his answer machine..."[to the rest of my review]":http://mog.com/FluxCapacitor/blog_post/83765 "Vampire Weekend's MySpace":http://www.myspace.com/vampireweekend
    Permalink posted 01/02/2008
  6. FluxCapacitor
    FluxCapacitor says *7- Amy Winehouse: Valerie*
    What can one say about Amy Winehouse that hasn't been said before? "She's the picture of health", perhaps. Sadly, saying this doesn't make it true, so instead I'll note Ms. Winehouse's extraordinary ability to put the pain and chaos of her dangerous drug-fueled existence into lovely lighthearted pop songs. As with this swinging Zutons cover, even when not singing self-penned lyrics, she makes the music her own with a combination of ice-cool vocals and playful phrasing (check out that "lawye-eh-eh-er"). Wishing her genuine good health in 2008. "Amy Winehouse's MySpace":http://www.myspace.com/amywinehouse
    Permalink posted 01/02/2008
  7. FluxCapacitor
    FluxCapacitor says *8- White Rabbits: The Plot*
    This is, uh, a great song. Excuse my lack of erudition, but I got into a bit of trouble the last time I posted about it. Regular visitors might remember that I used _The Plot_ to soundtrack a story about my friend, The Blagger, who did a certain drinks company up like a kipper. A certain drinks company who read my post and who tried to trick me into revealing his identity in the comments section. An attempt that failed miserably. Ha-ha! "White Rabbits' MySpace":http://www.myspace.com/whiterabbits
    Permalink posted 01/02/2008
  8. FluxCapacitor
    FluxCapacitor says *9- Babyshambles: Delivery*
    Pete Doherty might look like a Dickensian poorhouse pauper, but his rich musical gift has not deserted him. Babyshambles' new song Delivery is a blissful garage-pop record"...[to the rest of my review]":http://mog.com/FluxCapacitor/blog_post/102210 "Babyshambles' MySpace":http://www.myspace.com/wearebabyshambles
    Permalink posted 01/02/2008
  9. Dale
    Dale says Very nice list Colin!h
    Permalink posted 01/02/2008
  10. FluxCapacitor
    FluxCapacitor says *10: The Enemy - Away From Here*
    Mouthy, shouty, teenage yob rockers from the industral wastelands of central England with an uncanny (possibly malformed) ear for rollicking good tunes. Amusingly enough, their Rolling Stones support slot in London was cut short after singer Tom Clarke called the audience a "bunch of old c**ts". Gig of the year, hands down. "The Enemy's MySpace":http://www.myspace.com/theenemycoventry
    Permalink posted 01/02/2008
  11. Marigold
    Marigold says wow. Information overload! I will need to come back to this one later today. Great list from just scanning things though.
    Permalink posted 01/02/2008
  12. FluxCapacitor
    FluxCapacitor says @ Dale - Cheers. And due to my tardiness in posting no. 10, you are part of my list...without even releasing a record! Well done! @ Mike - Thanks, mate. And don't worry, you have the whole year to come back to it if you want -- that's me and lists done for another year!
    Permalink posted 01/02/2008
  13. Dale
    Dale says Whoo hoo! Yay me!
    Permalink posted 01/02/2008
  14. dachmo
    dachmo says Sweet list, thanks for the taste test's! The Cribs and GoodBooks go to the top of my to get list.
    Permalink posted 01/02/2008
  15. Neill
    Neill says 1, 2 & 3 are fantastic tunes. Just can't get my head around The Enemy....had the same problem with The Libertines.....
    Permalink posted 01/02/2008
  16. Anna
    Anna says "It's a sign of these metrosexual times that the pop world's most radical feminist is a man". HAHAHHAHAHAHAHA With you on everything but Feist (whose voice I can't dig, you can start calling me names now) and Vampire Weekend (who rub me the wrong way - not the naughty wrong one!). Eugene McGuinness is a new (missed your review for some reason, pardon me) discovery for me. Sounds like he has demons to face. That's a deal-maker in my music book.
    Permalink posted 01/02/2008
  17. Anna
    Anna says "Amusingly enough, their Rolling Stones support slot in London was cut short after singer Tom Clarke called the audience a "bunch of old c**ts". Gig of the year, hands down" are you trying to kill me laughing? Indie sitcom, count me in.
    Permalink posted 01/02/2008
  18. Sturgell
    Sturgell says Amazing post Colin. Cheers!
    Permalink posted 01/02/2008
  19. FluxCapacitor
    FluxCapacitor says @ David - Cheers, only returning the favor after your list sent me scurrying to hypemachine. @ Neill - Yes, those tunes really kick ass. Glad you like 'em. The Enemy are the youngest yet the most successful band on that list. Admittedly, they're a little limited musically and in lyrical scope due to their age and experience. I like their songs in part because I grew up on the kitchen sink estates they write about. @ Anna - Delighted to make a fellow joker laugh. And glad you like Eugene. For such a young guy, he faces those demons with such maturity and (most importantly) good humour. Yeah, anindie sitcom would be great, I wnt to put all this useless knowledge to use. In all seriousness, I might have a closer look at this idea next month. Contributions welcome! @ Adam - Thanks, mate. It was a pleasure.
    Permalink posted 01/02/2008
  20. gympumpkin
    gympumpkin says Great list!
    Permalink posted 01/02/2008
  21. HelenMarie
    HelenMarie says A mighty fine, musically, humorously, linkage...ly informative list. A most entertaining post. You've out done yourself (and the rest of 'em) Show off!!! This in particular had me holding my belly, among others, like Anna mentions... "A mating call as sincere and heartfelt as that of a Serengeti wildebeest who has returned from work of a Friday evening to find not one single message on his answer machine" Fantastic!
    Permalink posted 01/02/2008
  22. milkshake
    milkshake says That Babyshambles cover is quite cool - was surprised to find myself liking Delivery and their other song (was it it Talk?) this year.
    Permalink posted 01/02/2008
  23. Bartleby
    Bartleby says A perfectly wrought work of love, FluxC. If I may so bold as to share a personal story of mine which may bear some relevance to the Maccabees' digestive tale. Once, aeons ago, the Girlfriend I was with got drunk at a concert and was feeling amorous. So she snogged me and right there, right then puked on me intra-orally. (I'm using the Latinate so as not to scare your dignified readership). So the song has a special resonance (or "regurgitance") indeed.
    Permalink posted 01/02/2008
  24. darmuzz
    darmuzz says Wonderful playlist! Loved GoodBooks, Eugene McGuiness, White Rabbits and Babyshambles especially!
    Permalink posted 01/02/2008
  25. Marigold
    Marigold says Once again. Great post Colin. I just spent about an hour cranking these here tunes up. I think the one that caught me the most was Vampire Weekend. I remember your post on them from back in June but today it caught me in a better time. I also enjoyed the other songs from their myspace. Specifically the song "Oxford Comma". It looks like they have a new record coming out soon. I will have to keep an eye out for it.
    Permalink posted 01/02/2008
  26. dachmo
    dachmo says **Bartleby** - That has to be the worst story I have ever heard
    Permalink posted 01/02/2008
  27. ZenPop
    ZenPop says I'm only part of the way through this, but I had to pause to say "Thanks!"... great postola....
    Permalink posted 01/02/2008
  28. FluxCapacitor
    FluxCapacitor says @ GP - Thanks! No new words for you this time, though -- it was all about the music (for once)! @ Sunny D - All I have to do is look at your avatar and I'm "holding my belly" - now _that's_ showing off! @ Milkshake - The cover art is some Romantic-era poet like Shelley strung out on opium. What kind of lifestyle are you leading?! (And yep, the other song is _You Talk_). @ Michael - Ha! Thanks for sharing that comitragic story! I'd say there hasn;t been a toothpaste invented to rid yourself of that reek. @ Darla - Cheers! I remember you took a shine to Eugene, all right...glad you liked the others, too. @ Mike - Yes, I love Oxford Comma. I think a lot of people have high hopes for that record, I was listening to a new one on MySpace yesterday, too, and it all bodes well. @ ZenPop - Mighty nice of you to take the time. I have your list bookmarked for perusal.
    Permalink posted 01/03/2008
  29. kristiana
    kristiana says 1, 3, 8, 9 &10 do it for me! Thanks! And for the amusing read too, as usual.
    Permalink posted 01/07/2008
  30. FluxCapacitor
    FluxCapacitor says Always glad to do it for you, Kristiana. I'll look out for the indie pop influence in your next demo!
    Permalink posted 01/07/2008
  31. kristiana
    kristiana says Are you doing it for me right now? Oh my. Better bring your spectacles then, don't think you'll be seeing much of that. Maybe the next batch...
    Permalink posted 01/07/2008
  32. FluxCapacitor
    FluxCapacitor says Hah, look forward to it (the demos, that is...)
    Permalink posted 01/07/2008
  33. goodmusiconly
    goodmusiconly says Ah, finally made it here -- I knew I'd be rewarded with a good laugh and a sweet aural fix. Well done, mate! Great list, loving GoodBooks (btw, are you aware they speak of you being embedded on their web site? I know, "embedded" has the potential to sound a bit naughty, doesn't it? But really, go see!) I've avoided Pete Doherty like the plague but I must say I like what I'm hearing there; and Maccabees and McGuinness are fun as well. I caught a double-bill of The Cribs and White Rabbits in Chicago at one of the Lollapalooza aftershows; I have a few shots in the Lolla album on my Multiply page if you want to take a gander (but pardon my less-than-stellar photography skills). Thanks Colin, for lightening my wallet even more ... I think.
    Permalink posted 01/08/2008
  34. FluxCapacitor
    FluxCapacitor says Thanks for taking a listen. By the looks of him, Pete Doherty _has_ the plague. And yep, not only am I embedded on GoodBooks' site but Bloc Party have written a song about me. Go me. I'll duly check out your M page... and perhaps you should check out mine later today... (wink, nod, say no more.)
    Permalink posted 01/09/2008

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