Tuesday, August 01, 2006

The best of July

Right, before the month gets any older, a quick look back at my musical highlights of July.

Album of the month

It's been a bit hard to choose this month, what with so much good stuff out. In the end, the choice was between the ubiquitous Lily Allen and the posthumously ubiquitous Johnny Cash. Maybe it's the summer heat addling my brain, but I'm going with Lily. Maybe in a year's time I'll look back and think I was mad - what? choosing the hyped starlet's reggae-lite over the magisterial valedictory album from a legend like Cash. Well, maybe, but it is summer, and just now it seems so right - it's certainly the record I've been most consistently listening to and enjoying most in July. Plus there's not a duff track there, and how many albums can you say that about?

Download: Lily Allen - Take What You Take

Songs of the Month

1. Dangerdoom - Old School (feat Talib Kweli)

My journey back towards decent hip-hop continues. I missed The Mouse and The Mask last year, until I heard this monster blasting out the radio earlier in the month. Then I made amends.

2. Adem - Launch Yourself (Thomas Erikson Mix)

Adem's quirky downbeat folk number gets a minimal scuzzy synth re-working, to magnificent effect.

3. Sol Seppy - Slo Fuzz

I admit I know next to nothing about Sol Seppy (aka Sophie Michalitsianos), but this warm, er, fuzzy song is real beauty. I've got the iTunes free download to thank me for the introduction.

4. Fields - Brittle Sticks

I raved about this lot recently, so I'm re-posting. Just really good indie rock, the way it should be done.

5. Peter, Bjorn and John - Young Folks

This insanely catchy tune has been all over the radio last month. Cue mass whistling (maybe).

5 comments:

headphonesex said...

I have to disagree.. imho there are two majorly duff tracks on the lily allen album - and 'take what you take' is one of them. I can't stand it! It sounds like something left off The Farm's album.

However the rest of it is fuckin' amazing.

The Daily Growl said...

Actually, I'm kinda with you on the Farm comparison. But then again, the Farm were always a guilty pleasure of mine!

Anonymous said...

I've just bookmarked your blog. And I hate blogs! I stumbled across it because of the bit about the elephant - yes it was absolutely wonderful. But your choice of music is what I've bookmarked it for - pretty good stuff apart from the dreadful Lily Allen. At least there isn;t any Sandi Thom - there isn't is there?

Anonymous said...

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah could you upload slo fuzz again :( please ? im so in love with that song

The Daily Growl said...

It's still there m'dear. Try again - it should work...