Easy Like Sunday Morning #11

Ok, so Fridays post was missing. Long story cut short I left my house on Thursday to pre-swall for soulwaxmas and I returned home on Saturday evening, on the Friday between I went to ASIWYFA's gig and went to a ludicrous house party the same night (people were arriving when I was leaving at 9am and it was the most active part of the party). ASIWYFA blew Belfast apart, I missed soulwax and Tiga on the Friday (forgot ticket and had to go back) but mix hell blew the roof of the place, 2manydjs however just did the exact same thing they did at Belsonic, it was rubbish the first time and it was rubbish again if you were to listen to the two sets you'd be convinced that no music had been released in the past 6 months as they were pretty much the same. Because of all this my body clock has been all off, I slept a good bit of today as I didn’t go to bed until lunchtime.

For the first post of the day I'm going to be posting Air's - Ce matin là from their stunning album Moon Safari. If I were to try and explain what Easy Like Sunday Morning was about to someone who didn’t get the title (ie a complete idiot), I would just give them a copy of Moon Safari and they would instantly understand what we were trying to show people. I honestly think that this is possibly the most organic sounding album every made and if I were trying to determine if a pair of speakers were worth my money or not, this is the album I'd use. Ce matin là is constantly a song I find getting stuck in my head, I'll find myself on a bus, train or walking around town/uni just humming the infectious brass lead over and over again. Everything from that typical air-esque bass to the steel sounding guitar are perfect in this track. I'm really actually surprised that I haven't posted this track earlier as it is my favorite Air track from what I personally think is the dynamic duo's best work. I urge you to get a copy of this album by any means necessary even if it means robbing it from a shop (I don't condone any criminal activity, this is clearly a sarcastic comment meant to raise a cheap laugh, however if you do decide to do this just use the ten tracks on the album as your defense and the jury will understand and probably let you off), the reason I urge you to listen to this album is that you will almost definitely find a different favorite track to mine, it's just that sort of album. I discovered this album when I was in my 3rd or 4th year of school during the height of listening to metal bands such as Megadeth and going through a typical stage of not wanting to conform (by ironically conforming to something else…), but that alone says a lot about the album, as it is something especially at that time which I would not have expected to like and it is without a doubt beside Grandmaster Flash one of the two key elements in the change that made me listen to music the way I do today. This is definitely, for me, an in bed sort of album, one to go to sleep to and one to wake up to, its therapeutic in ways that therapy could never be and proves that simplicity is one of the keys to perfection. I could go on and on about why this album is one of the best made and why it's so good but i'd rather let you discover it for yourself than let me impose learned habits in regards to how and why you should listen to it. Ce matin là by some sort of beautiful coincidence means "That Morning".

Air - Ce matin là

The next song I'm going to post is another obvious one that has somehow eluded me up until now, Simon and Garfunkel's always atmospheric The Sound of Silence. Anyone who goes to the cinema even semi-often or enjoys film will recognize this track as it is used on a seemingly regular basis within film. The best use of this track is clearly from the film The Graduate, the song plays at a time when Hoffmans character has finished his time at university, graduated and is having off time discovering who he is before he decides to tackle the world. The song very appropriately plays when his family are bothering him about his future and he lies in his pool then immerses himself underwater, hence the song being used (lots of symbolism going on here film fans). The song is a herald to what Simon and Garfunkel used to be before their constant break-ups and reunification's (as of writing this they are together…kinda). The song opens with simplistic guitar work that progresses throughout the song and is backed by the perfect and typical harmonizing voices of Simon & Garfunkel.

Simon & Garfunkel - The Sound of Silence

The next track I want to post is a slight progression for the blog as I don’t think we've talked about the genre yet. Like the track above, most people will probably be familiar with this track through film. The track is Brian Eno's Deep Blue Day which methodical film fans may be familiar with as the track that plays during Trainspotting when Renton dives into the toilet. There's not really much to talk about historically for this track other than it was purportedly first used and written for a documentary by NASA called For All Mankind. It’s a very Caribbean themed track so hopefully it'll warm you up in this shockingly cold winter we're having.

Brian Eno - Deep Blue Day

The next track I'm posting is one everyone should be familiar with, as it was Christmas number one a few years ago, I think it was the last xmas number 1 before x factor began(kudos to rage btw, really didn’t think it was even remotely possible, the internet continues to surprise me). The track also featured in what could perceivabley be my favorite film (after The Trilogy). The song, as the pub-quiz enthusiasts would probably know by now is Gary Jules' Mad World (originally by Tears for Fears). Video game fans may will be familiar with the track through its appearance in one of the trailers for the first Gears of War game (which I personally think completely misled people about what the game would be like). The track is great and one that should definitely be listened to in a relaxing manner (otherwise you'll probably over think it and make yourself depressed) I don’t like to tell people how to listen to music but I'll make an exception here by saying to concentrate on the piano, the keys keep this song alive.

Gary Jules - Mad World

To finish up today, as it's the last Sunday post before Christmas, I thought I'd throw in a Xmas treat for you all to appreciate on this fine Sunday evening. From the nature of the post and what I've just said, some of you may have already guessed that the track I'm going to post; none-other than Oceansize's cover of Walking In The Air. The reason I'm posting this is very specified, so bear with me (in honesty the song justifies itself, kind of making the rest of this post irrelevant, but there is reasoning). Covers to many are a loved thing, to others they can seem gimmicky; I stand somewhere in the middle, mainly because not all covers work and a lot are indeed gimmicky. To me covers can be a work of genius, if done right. The reason for this is that they instantly make genres of music that others may not be familiar with, or willing to explore, very accessible. It gives people an understanding of the track as the cover version will add a "what if?" element to the songs they are applied to. Now I'm obviously talking here about cross-genre covers, covers that try to perfectly emulate the same sound end up sounding shite. Some work (check for Chris Cornell's live acoustic version of Billie Jean, the one he recorded for Carry On just didn’t work imo) and some don't (ie Will Young desecrating The Doors legacy - im not even linking to this one). This is something that works and can easily be enjoyed by all, it's an upbeat and completely original look on a classic that everyone is familiar with, if you want someone to become a post-rock fan this Christmas then show them this, they may just thank you for it.

Oceansize - Walking In The Air

Easy Like Sunday Morning #6

This week I have decided to list some of my all-time favourite more relaxed or laidback tracks. Originally this wasn't an intentional thing but as I was compiling the tracks that's just the way it went. Practically all of these tracks I would consider essential listening providing this type of music is what you're into. If not, you may find some of them a little difficult to get on board with but you may even surprise yourself if you give them a chance.

Firstly is Oceansize's Music For A Nurse. After getting featured in an Orange advertisement, a television drama and a recent film, The Invisible, this track was consequently considered almost platitudinous or overplayed if you listened to the critics. Thankfully I didn't and still don't. Regardless of where or how heavily this track was featured, it never becomes convoluted or feels misplaced. It is rare for a song to be able to convey such a large range of emotions from so many different people. Whereas some people may hear this song as a melancholic or desolate piece, I see it more as a graceful yet ultimately triumphant song. There is no wrong interpretation, it is roughly down to how the song is approached and the listeners general outlook and overall levels of perception but even then let's not get ahead of ourselves. Music For A Nurse comes from the innovative yet frequently misunderstood album Everyone Into Position. Originally, although I enjoyed it, I didn't quite see what the big fuss was about. I was very much still in love with their first album Effloresce and with the follow-up there was a slight departure in style and a significant departure in focus. At first glance, Everyone Into Position seemed to be a softer, more brooding rendition of their music as opposed to the heavier yet multifaceted first album. It took me a long time to come to terms with this new approach because while I often acknowledged its artistic merit in my own mind, it never quite hit the pinnacle of Effloresce for me. To an extent, my stance hasn't changed but after managing to see them live (still my favourite gig) I learnt a new level of appreciation for the album, particularly Ornament/The Last Wrongs. It was only after this concert that I came to realise just how elegant and imaginative it was aesthetically. Music For A Nurse was chosen because it is an untarnished extension of these aesthetic qualities.

Oceansize - Music For A Nurse

The second track to be posted is The Postal Service's Such Great Heights. You may remember that the last time I did this I chose Death Cab For Cutie's Soul Meets Body. It isn't a coincidence that this weeks post features The Postal Service, a collaborative effort between Ben Gibbard, the vocalist for DCFC and Jimmy Tamborello (also known by the pseudonym Dntel) of Figurine and Headset. It was a deliberate choice to continue with this alignment as I feel it best summarises Ben Gibbard's songwriting prowess yet also offers something fresh and to an extent unconventional. The name The Postal Service originates with the way in which they chose to produce the bands songs. It was only after Tamborello had written and recorded the instrumental parts that they were sent to Gibbard who would then edit or refine them and come up with the vocals which he believed best fitted the music. Given that this was a sideproject for both artists, in order to undertake these songwriting duties without compromising their main projects, they chose to send eachother demo tapes via the United States Postal Service. The song Such Great Heights is arguably the standout track from the album because whilst there are other tracks which are notable, it best represents both the band itself and the ideals on which it was formed. The vocals are irrestibly catchy yet the music is so off-the-wall that it just works. Listening to this song and concentrating solely on the instrumental parts gives a huge inclination as to just how made for eachother these two are. Despite being very much an electronica song, it still manages to maintain a certain degree of indie pop sensibility which never ceases to bring a smile to my face.

The Postal Service - Such Great Heights

The middle track for today's post is by the man himself, Gerry Rafferty. Of course it could only be his seminal not-quite-a-number-one Baker Street. Unless you're a robot from outer space (and even then you probably still would have heard it), it is practically guaranteed that you have heard this track somewhere along your travels. It is inescapable and is one of those rare tracks that means something to each individual listener. If you haven't heard it or the name sounds unfamiliar to you, why not take some time to get acquainted? Its unlikely you'll regret it. One of the main reasons this song is so well-known is because of that saxophone solo. Not only did Raphael Ravenscroft's solo rejuvenate the instrument within the mainstream media but it also did so within the public domain resulting in a surge in saxophone sales. Baker Street, to me, is essential Sunday listening. I don't know what it is about this song but it just perfectly manifests a lazy Sunday morning or afternoon to me in a way that very few songs can. It manages to convey a lackadaisical vibe without stretching too far into that category while all the while remaining effortlessly cool. It is a shame that Rafferty failed to emulate the success of Baker Street in later years because if this is what he could do with a song about busking in London, who knows what he could have done with more commodious subject matter. Then again, maybe this unpretentious background is where the song's engagingness stems from. Personally I think its the killer sax solo.

Gerry Rafferty - Baker Street

Fourth on the chopping block is La Ritournelle by Sebastien Tellier. You may remember Mr. Tellier from his Eurovision entry that was deemed controversial due to his emphasis on singing in English rather than his native tongue of French, leading Tellier to increase the amount of French within the song itself. Regardless, he still only scored 47 points resulting in a position of 18th, demonstrating exactly how tasteless and bureaucratic this 'competition' is. I don't know what would be worse, Tellier losing to a bunch of manufactured pop artists or winning and obtaining a sense of unflourished credibility in all the wrong circles. I once put a slightly remixed version of La Ritornelle onto a mix CD and sent it around a multitude of people around the United Kingdom and Ireland. The reason behind this distribution was because of a project involving an exchange of music that crops up every couple of years on various different forum boards I use. Needless to say the results were unabashededly negative. I hope this second lease of life fares a little better because I honestly believe this song to be one of the greatest of all time. It just works on so many different levels and offers something which has become more and more difficult to acquire within the music industry in recent years: purity. Admittedly, the remix which I originally sent around I feel is a slight improvement over the source track due to a very, very minimal increase in speed, but I think it would be wrong of me to post anything but the original within this post. It is still utterly fantastic in every respect.

Sebastien Tellier - La Ritournelle

Lastly we have a track I've been sitting on for the best part of a year, Common Market's Tobacco Road. I'm sure you want to know exactly why I've been sitting on a track for so long, especially considering this blog has only existed for just under three months now. The answer is that sometime in the future I am hoping to be featured in a Halo 3 montage showcasing my skills and whatnot. Whilst this track was never intended to be used in conjunction with the gameplay footage, after initially listening to it whenever that was I figured that it would make excellent credit music. I am reasonably sure that I was introduced to this track after downloading it from a blog which is puzzling because it is not the sort of music that is typically featured on blogs. Either way, it has everything that one could possibly want from credit music; an unashamed melody and flow that hints at a sentimentality that most rappers wouldn't touch with a six foot pole. The use of piano is simple yet effective and communicates a mixture of despondency and longing remembrance that expertly fits the message I will almost undoubtedly be trying to divulge at the end of the video. The very fact that it is making it into this video whenever it will be (it may even never come around) should give a broad implication as to just how highly I think of it. Give it a few listens and hopefully you'll feel the same way.

Common Market - Tobacco Road

Easy Like Sunday Morning #5

Regular visitors to the blog will have noticed that I didn't post last Sunday's blog, this was due to the storm that occurred on Saturday evening that fried my router. Nonetheless things are back on track this week.

The first song I'm going to post is one from a band that had a great influence on me about 5 years ago, and whom I still hold a great deal of respect for, even if I'm not a fan of their more recent material. The band in question is the highly successful American progressive metal/rock group Dream Theater. I first came into contact with this band through an instrumental piece from their 1994 album Awake, called Erotomania, also being the song that consciously introduced me to the prog scene in general. The song I'm going to post comes from the bands 2002 concept alum Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence, an album which tackles the struggles of life, with the first disc dealing with morality, death, alcoholism, loss of faith and such issues, while the second disc deals with struggles of the mind in the form of mental disorders. The 6th and final track of the album fills entirety of the 2nd disc and is split up into 8 movements, the track I am wanting to profile is the 6th movement of this track, known as Solitary Shell.
The track deals with a person living with autism (degree 5) with the story explaining his life and progression of the illness, starting off as appearing normal then slowly showing signs of the illness, with James LaBrie singing about different aspects of the disease such as extreme concentration and withdrawal from social contact. The song is a typical prog rock piece that seems to appear at least once in every one of Theaters album's to contrast the prog metal that dominates each of them. The song, from the opening chords is very reminiscent of Peter Gabriel's Solsbury Hill and seems to be an homage to the track (even in name), when LaBrie enters it is clear that his vocals aren’t up to the standard that they had been in previous years, obviously due to the infamous food poisoning incident(however it should be noted that after the tour that accompanied this album, la brie claimed his vocals skills returned after time and trained, which although sounds suspicious, I think was proven with his best work on Ayreon Human Equation album). The song continues to reference the Gabriel song by incorporating a very similar sounding chorus which continues to build up to roughly the 4 minute mark were we have the second instrumental break of the song were we hear a some heavier instrumental work before Petrucci treats us with some flamenco style guitar work. The song continues to build as nears the end of the track which has been written as the lead-in to the next track. This song may be a bit "out there" for some of the people who may visit this blog, but our goal is to ultimately expand peoples horizons and giving the structure of the song I think this makes it a perfect way to open the Sunday post, enjoy.

Dream Theater - Solitary Shell


The second artist I want to talk about is an artist who most for you will be all too familiar with, The Chemical Brothers. Being slightly more upbeat that is usually for the Sunday post I wanted to put this in as I feel it incorporates the feel of a Sunday pretty well, or it at least holds some sort of nostalgic Sunday feeling to it. Star Guitar comes from the Brothers fourth album and was released as a single in 2002 were it gained a lot of prominence in the club scene, the song also re-gained a lot of this prominence in 2007 when Shinichi Osawa did a cover version that took the clubs by storm which also produced many remixes. The song is very typical of the chemical brothers electronica, big beat and very psychedelic sound that the band has become associated with combing and establishing over the years. The song contains a sample of Bowies Starman which is looped and repeated throughout the song, with other instruments mimicking this and then going off into their own musical journey, with vocals coming into it at the halfway point that give the song a depth that only the chemical brothers seem to know how to deliver.

The Chemical Brothers - Star Guitar

The next band and song I'm going to discuss is almost a guilty pleasure and a band I haven't actually properly listened to in a long time. Down were formed in 1991 by vocalist Phil Anselmo of Pantera, guitarist Pepper Keenan of Corrosion of Conformity, second guitarist Kirk Windstein of Crowbar, bassist Todd Strange of Crowbar, and drummer Jimmy Bower of Eyehategod. The band seemed have a more southern approach the bands previous endeavors and really concentrated more so on their lives and their where they lived. It was also took a step back from the heavier stuff that each member and their respective bands are known for, even taking an acoustic and more rock orientated approach in many of their songs. The song I'm going to profile is from their first album and is titled "Jail". My greatest memory of this song is when I went to see the band play in June of 2006 in Belfast's Mandela hall, the band dimmed the lights, filled the stage with smoke and Bower came of the drums and went center stage with the rest of the group, brining a bongo with him, Anselmo go the audience to clap in time and the band performed what I thought was probably the best song of the night. They played again a few months back (with Static x), however I felt the group was charging an extortionate amount to see them and I refused to pay it. Jail truly stands out among downs songs as it isn't really like anything they have done since and really does hold a certain atmosphere to it. The song is very reminiscent of music you'd expect to hear in a dream sequence during a movie and I can't quite describe how it sounds so I suggest you listen to it yourself and form your own opinions.

Down - Jail


In 1998 a show was conceived from the mind of Shinichirō Watanabe, an aspiring anime director, created the show "Cowboy Bebop", an anime about bounty hunters (or "cowboys") in space. Without going into too much detail the show basically pursued a bunch of vagabond bounty hunters on their ill-fated and unsuccessful missions within space and on colonized planets within the solar system. One reason I was attracted to the show was because of the washed out and very used look everything seemed to have in the show, everything look like it had been lived in/on and used many times, this wasn't a future presented to us as fresh and out of the box. Another reason I was attracted to the show, was because of the music used within it. Bebop's episodes are self-referred to has sessions, rather than episodes, this being an obvious homage to music in general. Every episode name had a musical theme, wither it be the name of a famous song (Bohemian Rhapsody) or a slight reference to a genre (mushroom samba). The primary attraction of the music within Bebop, is that it's all performed by The Seatbelts, led by Yoko Kanno. The Seatbelts could probably be best described as a handpicked bunch of session musicians, created specifically for the series, the majority of the songs they create are within the blues/jazz genre's, however their songs cover pretty much every genre there is and cross between them creating their own unique sound. I don't want to go into too much detail on the band or their origins as they will definitely be getting a profile piece in the future on the blog. One of my favorite songs of theirs falls perfectly into the Sunday category and has been riffling through my playlists for years. Ask D.N.A is one of my favorite treacks by the seatbelts and has a very upbeat tempo, with a similer sound to the some of the beatles later work. Ask D.N.A is a song that is not actually in the series, however it is the opening theme for the movie and is a easygoing track to define your Sunday.

The Seatbelts - Ask D.N.A

The last song I want to talk about could possibly be considered one of my favorite songs of all time and it is on an album that is being considered for the Excellence of Execution (in close contention with one other by the same artist), but due to the nature of the Sunday post I thought I'd post this particular song now. Also, once again due to the nature of the Sunday post, you'll probably find that this particular artist will be featured many times and probably more than any other, not only because of how ell suit the bill but because of their overall progression as artists and how they moved music on in more ways than one. If you haven't already guessed by now, I'm talking about The Beatles. In JUNKER's first Sunday post he wrote about blackbird from the highly influential self titled album, which many saw as the Beatles truly progressing as an artist by differing from what they had done before with Sgt. Pepper and Mystery Tour, with the former mirroring this very same progression on their earlier work. For me Abbey Road really stands out and I'm still not entirely sure why (im not saying its my favorite, as i don't even think i could choose) , but I believe it is because the Beatles seemed to mature more as a band, appearing and sounding more accomplished and rounded. The Beatles work is unique in that you can look at the albums and see the changes between them, they almost seem like a road trip with it being very evident from the white album that they were beginning to come to the end of their trip.
The song I'm wanting to post about here is the unforgettable Here Comes the Sun, a masterpiece penned by George Harrison with a back story that suitable acts as a prologue to the song . According to Harrison, the song was written during somewhat of a depression for the man, it had been a tough year with him getting his tonsils out, being "busted" for marijuana possession and when their record label was becoming too much of a chore, this on top of a typically long British winter set the stage for Harrison writing the song in spring of '69 while taking a break from work with Apple at a close friends house, with the song obviously talking of the good times ahead. The track, along with the album in general (in particularly the end), contains some of Ringo Starr's best drum work, even though many criticize him on his skills in general, personally I feel Starr's drum work was perfect for the Beatles work, if it had have been any more prominent it probably would have taken away from the content of most of the band's songs. The song , keeping in line with Harrisons style of writing, opens with a single acoustic guitar singing out the main riff of the song with Harrison soon coming into the song vocally singing the title of the song, with McCartney soon joining in backing. The song is one i've listened to a lot and will continue to listen to as I grow older, I hope it rounds of your Sunday is it did mine.

The Beatles - Here Comes The Sun

(Links fixed)

Easy Like Sunday Morning #4

It is that time of the week again and what a beautiful day it is. Considering it is nearing the end of October, it is frankly pretty amazing that the sun is out in full force. Do yourselves a favour and get out there and start soaking up some rays. This is going to be one of your last chances to do it for at least a quarter of a year before the skies get dark and the bitterness of winter kicks in. Hopefully the tracks posted in this update can inspire you to take advantage of this good weather.

First up is one of my favourite songs from my favourite album, David Bowie's incredibly underrated gem, Black Tie White Noise. Usually when David Bowie is brought up in conversations, there are almost always references to the likes of Space Oddity, Ziggy Stardust, Diamond Dogs and Let's Dance. This isn't necessarily a bad thing. Almost everyone who has ever had the chance to listen to a David Bowie record has their own personal preference, after all, he is a man of many faces. Having been out of the public perspective for quite some time, it is not often that the extent and influence of his work is discussed at any great length. Often both the media and public alike forget exactly how much of a trendsetter and innovator he was and remains to be. The sheer volume of critical and commercial accomplishments he has made throughout the years is unparalleled by all but the most highly regarded artists. Although Black Tie White Noise is by no means his most quintessential album, there is an endearing quality to it that the majority of his albums fail to come close to. This is most likely because of the different themes touched upon within the album and the background history behind it. Coming off the back of his hard rock experimental sideproject Tin Machine, Black Tie White Noise was Bowie's first solo release of the 1990s. Whilst Tin Machine had initially proved to be a somewhat successful venture, many considered it to be too experimental and as a result it didn't quite set the charts on fire and lead to the general public becoming wary of Bowie. This factor, combined with the fact that the record label that released Black Tie White Noise, Savage Records, went bankrupt soon after it was released didn't exactly help its chances. In spite of this misfortune, however, the album still managed to reach the number one spot which is a testimony to its overall quality and charm. As mentioned previously, the themes that are touched upon on this album make it stand apart from much of his other work because while it sounds upbeat and vivacious on the surface, he touches upon topics such as racism in the legal system and the questioning of mass conformity. It isn't all doom and gloom though. Songs such as The Wedding and the featured track Miracle Goodnight provide a nice counter to the antecedent subject matter. Miracle Goodnight, in particular, was chosen due to its funky, contemporary rhythm and Bowie's dry yet distinctive vocals.

David Bowie - Miracle Goodnight

The second track to be featured in this post is Soul Meets Body by Death Cab For Cutie. While I admit I am not the biggest DCFC fan in the world, I enjoy the majority of their material. I guess you could say they are a guilty pleasure of sorts, though personally I don't believe in such things as personal taste is nothing to be ashamed of. The track Soul Meets Body is taken from one of their more noteworthy albums, Plans, and is their highest charting single in the US. Despite such popular allure in America, the band aren't quite as well recognised in the UK. That's not to say that they're an underground group or anything, in fact, they are quite the opposite, being signed to the major record label, Atlantic. Compared to more homegrown indie rock groups such as the Arctic Monkeys, Kasabian or Razorlight, they are relatively unknown in most circles, which is a crying shame because their tracks are considerably more well-structured compared to said acts while at the same time remaining irresistibly catchy. Soul Meets Body is a perfect example of this catchiness. It is not necessarily stuck-in-your-head-all-week catchy but it most definitely has that kind of vibe going for it, something critics have described as "a melody softly soaring through my atmosphere" accompanied by "tender, lovelorn lyrics that anyone over the age of ten can relate to".

Death Cab For Cutie - Soul Meets Body

For the next track I have decided to go for something a little bit different. Anyone who knows us has probably been wondering why there has been a significant lack of hip hop posted, especially given the fact that each of us is an avid fan of the genre. The simple truth is that we haven't got around to dedicating and committing ourselves to making a full post but it is most certainly in the pipeline. Instead, you will just have to make do with Common's Be, taken from the album of the same name. Following his critically and commercially disappointing album, Electric Circus, Common chose to work on a style many consider to be safe. While the former album concentrated on experimentation and fusing styles to create something more eclectic than what most hip hop artists offer, Be stood firmly in opposition, delivering infectious beats and smooth verses for maximum effect. In many respects the album itself was a comeback piece, a return to form and a record that not only paid homage to the rap artists of yesteryear but also gave broad indication as to where the genre was going. The mere fact that Kanye West produced Be speaks volumes for how Common chose to be reintroduced to the world. The reason I have chosen the first track from this album is because to me it just makes sense. It provides a nice introduction to both the album itself and Common as an artist while also maintaining a sense of unabridged familiarity. Although the backing beat is concordant with the vocals, it is the lyrics that originally stood out to me the most. While most listeners have become accustomed to Common's intellectuality, it is still pleasing to hear an artist rapping about the things that matter in a clear and cultivating way.

Common - Be

The next track was chosen as a homage to my musical roots. While I may not give the impression that I enjoy traditional Irish folk music, I have a special place in my heart for the likes of The Waterboys, Horslips and Lúnasa. The main reason for this love of Irish folk music is very much from my fathers input and influence. During my childhood, when we weren't on foreign holidays we ended up in every corner of Ireland chasing folk music. My dad quite literally lived and breathed the stuff and although he was into his Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond, Bruce Springsteen and a variety of others, the music that you would hear in some of the smallest pubs in Ireland was where his passion lay. We would travel all over the country searching out new bars that placed emphasis on folk music practically every night during a holiday. To put it in context, I have one distinct memory of driving up an astonishingly dangerous mountain in pitch darkness hunting out supposedly the best bar in Ireland for folk music and good times. From what I can recall, we were told about this bar by a drunken stranger, and let me tell you, he wasn't lying. To our total disbelief, it was jampacked full of punters all singing and dancing while the booze flowed as if it there was an endless fountain of alcohol being pumped right to the taps. There is something immensely captivating about these bars and despite having been in at least a dozen or so different countries, no one is able to come close. The main difference lies with the spontaneity of the Irish. One minute you could be sitting there surrounded by total silence, the next minute the whole place has erupted seemingly out of nowhere. It is usually at this point that you spot the instigator of craic, a man who could be old enough to be your grandfather who has pulled a harp out of what seems to be thin air and is breaking into an incomparably faithful rendition of an old folk song more than likely passed through the generations for centuries. As you may or may not have guessed, the artist I have chosen for this feature is Lúnasa with their track Morning Nightcap. The main reason behind this insertion is that I believe Lúnasa to be one of the few groups out there who perfectly capture the coextending tranquility and condensity of Irish folk music. The song Morning Nightcap is perfectly representative of this parallel, offering music which is as beautiful as it is exquisitely sentimental and consummately engrossing.

Lúnasa - Morning Nightcap

The last track to make it into this post is a track by one of the most original and inspiring electronic artists of the last decade, Moby. In my opinion, his album Play is one of the greatest of all time. A major criticism from music journalists regarding electronic music, with the exception of the likes of Aphex Twin, Kraftwerk, Vangelis and Leftfield is that it lacks creativity and inventiveness. Play singlehandedly shattered this opinion and paved the way for a new demographic. Not only has every single song on the album been featured in some shape or form in various different forms of media, especially film, but the album contains the perfect personification of flow. Every track fits into its slot like a glove and there isn't a single track I would consider for omission. Upon first listening to this album my mind was blown all over my living room wall and to this day I spend a considerable amount of time thinking about how exactly he was able to create and compose such a masterpiece on his own. The pacing of the tracks is exactly what you'd expect from a pioneer of electronic music and there are so many different styles that he gives RJD2 a run for his money, a feat that in itself is no easy task. While I have only decided to focus on one track, Inside, from Play in this post, expect at least two more in the coming weeks as it again becomes my turn to take the reigns for the weekly Easy Like Sunday Morning update. I heavily recommend saving this one for an especially rainy day (I know this is a morning post, but preferably at night) when you can lie in bed with your window open, blasting it from your best speakers. You will thank me later.

Moby - Inside

Easy Like Sunday Morning #3

In march of 1978 when avid fans came home and put the needle on the record that succeeded exodus, the first track they heard was "Easy Skanking" by Bob Marley and The Wailers. I personally don't listen to an excessive amount of Bob Marley as in some respects a lot of his tracks just aren’t my thing due to my belief that a lot of his work is tarnished by constant overplaying, which creates a cliché and tackiness that ruins the majority of them. However, I was introduced to Kaya about 4 or so years ago on a camping trip with friends, and the album stuck with me ever since, so it's probably more of a nostalgic thing to listen to. The track I associate the majority of the album to is Easy Skanking, the first song on the album which is essentially a song about dancing, taking it easy, slow and relaxing which is why it is perfect for this playlist.

Bob Marley & The Wailers - Easy Skanking


Au Revoir Simone are an indie orientated synthpop group that have found themselves being featured on Kitsune compilations and being played late night on the now defunct 120 minutes. They seem to generate a more organic sound than the other indie-electro based groups out there, which is one of the reasons why they stand out from the crowd. The girls seem to emanate a presence within their music, which probably originates from the airy vocals that are present with the majority of the tracks.Coming from the Brooklyn based trio, this instrumental is an ambient that track speaks for itself, just give it a listen.

Au Revoir Simone - The Winter Song


I was introduced to this track when I heard it playing in a bar, I went up to ask the dj what it was called, the funny thing being he didn't know; skip forward a year and I come across is again on a blog by coincidence. The track is very limited in release terms, and I'm led to believe that it may have just been a white label. For me this track is all about the bass and the deep voice that predominates the track, that is beautifully complimented by keys that stink of 80's funk. The Rainbow Brothers are a duo who originate from france and are better known as the groundbreaking ambient electronic band Air.

Rainbow Brothers - 818.323.01


Hailing from L.A, Lucas MacFadden, Cut Chemist, found his fame when he joined the unity committee, who would later join the Rebels of Rhythm to for the internationally successful Jurassic 5. Cut chemist collaborated with J5 on 3 studio albums, before departing the band to pursue his own career.Tolling in as the third track on cut-chemists first full length studio album, The Garden is a very ethnically themed which seems to be a homage of sorts to Bollywood cinema and the filmi genre of music contained within those films. The song, which is a great balance between old and new, the goal that most turntableism artists try and achieve, has an ambiance to it, achieved through bass and high-hats, that flows throughout the song and compliments the vocals and string based instruments harmonically.

Cut Chemist - The Garden


A song which comes to us from the last days of The Doors, Riders of the storm is purportedly the last song recorded by all 4 original members of the doors, before Morrison's death. The song is suitably inspired by and partially based upon the famous Ghost Riders in the Sky, a western telling of a cowboy who must change his ways. Riders on the Storm also has allusions to a non-fictional murdering hitchhiker (a killer on the road) who Jim was interested in and also based a screenplay on his actions for a purposed film. The song is one of the doors most atmospheric songs, this is clearly thanks to the use of the storm sound effects contained throughout; it's also partially attributed to Morrison's whispering the whole song as well as singing it and then having both tracks played over each other. I actually think that this is a track is more suited to Sunday evening rather than Sunday morning, this is mainly due to the more relaxed nature that the song conveys through the bass and dropping keys on Manzarerk's instruments and the subtle changes of key within Morrison's signature style; that is why I'm leaving this song for last, to round up your Sunday and lead you back into your day to day life, hope you enjoyed the weekend.

The Doors - Riders on the Storm

Easy Like Sunday Morning #2

Welcome to the second edition of our weekly update, Easy Like Sunday Morning. This week I will be jumping between genres to find some laidback tracks to make your hangover or whatever else seem more bearable. I've been thinking about this quite a bit, and although not all of my original inclusions will make it onto this list, they will definitely feature in another post sometime in the near future.

First up is Pearl Jam's seminal hit Jeremy. Taken from one of the most critically acclaimed albums of all time, Ten, Jeremy is both famous and infamous. Although it peaked at number 5 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks and had similar success on an international scale, the song was tarnished with controversy. After all, it was mainly inspired by a newspaper article about a young student, Jeremy Wade Delle, who shot himself in front of his English class in 1991. This subject matter is depicted in a somewhat raw manner within the music video, which climaxes with Jeremy putting the gun in his mouth and pulling the trigger, submerging his classmates in his blood. Naturally, MTV opted not to show the original ending, deeming it too unscrupulous for TV audiences, but lead singer Eddie Vedder maintains that there was a certain level that needed to be reached to do the article justice, "to give it that action, to give it reaction, to give it importance."

Pearl Jam - Jeremy

Secondly, we have Lupe Fiasco's The Coolest. It is likely that you have heard of Lupe Fiasco, both for his collaboration on Kanye West's Touch The Sky and from his huge hit from The Cool titled Superstar. Even though the latter track received a lot of airplay when it was released, I got a rather lukewarm feeling from it. It wasn't by any means bad, but it certainly wasn't the stand-out track from the album. Although I don't really listen to a lot of more commercial rap artists because they do little for me, Lupe Fiasco is one of the main exceptions to the rule. He is outstanding in almost every sense of the word and The Cool is a testament to that. It has some of the freshest production values seen on a hip-hop record, smooth flows and equally smooth beats. Most people aren't aware of this, but it is actually a concept album based on the darker realities of growing up on the streets and in the game. One of the main reasons I chose this track was because it helped me out on a potentially terrifying plane journey. When we were on our way back from Rock Werchter in Belgium, we decided to smoke an absolutely huge all-weed prerolled joint in Amsterdam just outside the airport. The experience was surreal to say the least and by the time we got on the plane we were incredibly stoned, so when it took off I wasn't expecting it at all and could hardly look out the window. Minutes later I decided to put on some music on my headphones and The Coolest was the first track picked. I went from serious nervous paranoia to absolute bliss in a matter of seconds and the plane ride became one of the most eventful I've ever been on.

Lupe Fiasco - The Coolest

When I woke up this morning and briefly thought about what tracks should be included in this post, the first thing that came to mind was Massive Attack's Teardrop, which is slightly strange as I haven't listened to it in years. The most likely reason for this sudden wave of consciousness is because it is, without a doubt, one of the most laidback tracks of all time. There isn't really much you can say about this track except that if you haven't heard it before, unless you listen to a lot of trip-hop, it will be unlike anything you have heard up until this point. What should be pointed out is that it is a long shot to even assume that people haven't heard this track because it is frequently used in a variety of different media outlets and has been covered by the likes of Incubus and Jose Gonzalez. Featuring Elizabeth Fraser of the Cocteau Twins on vocals and sampling a Les McCann track 'Sometimes I Cry', Teardrop remains a contemporary classic of this generation.

Massive Attack - Teardrop

Next up is Jeff Buckley's Last Goodbye. Despite the fact that the more cynical amongst us would dismiss Buckley's phenomenal debut album, Grace, as an overrated cash-in, I disagree. Even today, Grace still remains both relevant and untainted. The songwriting displayed on the album is far and beyond effectually everything that has came since and the vocals retain a soothing, almost majestic quality. Of course you could put this down to the fact that, like Nick Drake, he died long before his time, but the difference between Buckley and other songwriters is that he knows how to convey the right emotions at the right times. This album isn't solely filled with heartwarming, accoustic ballads. Instead, it focuses on gradual stylistic shifts between heavier and softer tracks. This balance is conserved throughout the entire album and can best be demonstrated in songs such as Hallelujah and Eternal Life. Last Goodbye on the other hand is more difficult to define. It has a beautiful, sentimental quality to it that is never too much or too little. In many respects, it has the perfect equilibrium and that's why it has made it onto this list.

Jeff Buckley - Last Goodbye

I've perhaps saved the best for last, The Beatles' classic Blackbird. I personally consider The Beatles to not only be the most influential band of all time, but also the best. They didn't just create songs with feeling, they created songs that would change the musical landscape forever. There are few bands today who don't owe something to The Beatles. Their influence is so widespread that many consider Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band to be the first Progressive Rock work and I'm of the opinion that Helter Skelter was one of the first tracks to have Metal tendencies. Though it is impossible to pick a favourite album by them, The White Album has to be up there, as it is one of their most experimental albums due in large part to their fascination with LSD and other hallucinogenics around the time of recording. The track Blackbird, however, is not based around such activities. It was actually written as a reaction to the racist treatment of black people in America in 1968. This aspect alone validates Lennon and McCartney's songwriting ability because they were able to combine structurally uneven, free verse with a very real message of freedom without compromising the artistic or background functions.

The Beatles - Blackbird

Easy Like Sunday Morning #1

As JUNKER has discussed in his previous posts, we plan to have many themed days on the blog. This Sunday post will probably end up being a regular thing. It will be composed of tracks that should and can be listened to on a Sunday morning. These will be tracks that are generally a lot more laid back than the usual tracks, or what we perceive laid back to be laid back; that could be anything from Hip-hop to Post Rock. I am also aware that it is no longer Sunday morning. 

David Bowie - Wild is the Wind 

This is without a doubt one of my favorite bowie tracks, off one of my favorite albums by the man. The song is a cover of the Nina Simone song of the same name, which itself is a cover of a song from the late 50's. This contorted soul ballad comes to us from Bowie's estranged "Thin White Duke" period, that presents us with a more vulnerable bowie, which most listeners aren’t used to hearing. Don't think any less of yourself for getting emotional during this track, it's extremely moving and one to listen to one a Sunday morning. Bowie is an artist who time and time again will release albums which are almost instantly deemed classics, so it's surprising that he has not released an album since 2003's Reality, which is disappointing as I personally would kill a man to see Bowie live. 

Daft Punk - Something About Us 

Taken from the unforgettable "Discovery" and naturally "Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem", this track is about as laid back as you can get. It's bass seems to hit all the right areas in your ears, coupled with the excellent use of the wah-wah effect, the song comes together perfectly for the mood the duo are trying to achieve. The vocals on this track (performed by punk) remind me of winter nights for some odd reason, but I suppose the things this song will remind us individually of are all subjective. Look out for Daft Punks upcoming 2010/2011 tour, we'll be sure to tell you as soon as we have news of it, also look out for Tron Legacy, which the duo are scoring. 

Jurassic 5 - Gotta Understand. 

In 1995, at the Red October Chemical Storage Facility, a collaboration was recorded between the Rebels of Rhythm and the Unity Committee. This collaboration started in 1993 at a cafe in LA known as "The Good Life". 11 years, 3 albums and 2 collections later and their final album "Feedback" is released in summer of 2006. Personally I feel that Feedback was a return to form after what I think was a disappointment with "Power In Numbers". The track "Gotta Understand" was a testament to what the contemporary Jurassic 5 were capable of. The track contains elements of Curtis Mayfield's "Mr. Welfare Man" (vocals from Gladys Knight & the Pips) and has a lot of Jurassic 5's legendary harmonizing and timing contained within, definitely a nice upbeat song for Sunday mornings.

RJD2 - Ghostwriter 

This standout track comes from RJD2's debut album,"Deadringer". This track is probably in my top 5 RJD2 songs. The many samples used within this song have been constructed together in a unique harmonious way that rjd2 has become famous for, such as the looping guitar sample which compliments some of the catchiest brass melody's I've ever heard, second only to Bond's, whistle it once and you'll have it stuck in your head all week.

RJD2 Upcoming Dates:
14th October 2009 @ Vessel  in  San Fransisco, US
30th October 2009 @ The Warehouse  in  Bozeman, MT, US
31st October 2009 @ Filmore Auditorium  in  Denver, US

65daysofstatic - Radio Protector 

People believe that they derived their name from psychological experiments from the 60's, an unmade Carpenter movie starring Kurt, proposed techniques by the C.I.A to overthrow a country in the 50's and even Hitler's last words. I decided to end with this song, mainly because it's not as laid back as the rest of the songs and because it's one of my favorite songs in the post-rock genre. The video delivers an interesting message about global warming by using stats, facts and figures of the bands travels and how much carbon emissions were made during their Radio Protector tour in 2006. The song starts and ends with a piano keying a melody that will no doubt call back nostalgia of bittersweet moments that you have experienced in your life, and is riffled with emotion the whole way through. 65dos haven't played Belfast in a while now but when they do we'll no doubt be at the front giving it reps, as they always give an energy driven show, unlike many bands I have seen. 

65daysofstatic Upcoming Dates: 
17th November 2009 @ 20:00 @ Academy 2 in Manchester, UK 
18th November 2009 @ 20:00 @ Heaven in London, UK