Most of my mornings lately have involved me getting up at 6.30 for a run before getting organised for work. Yesterday I competed in a 5k run though so I treated myself to a bit of a sleep in this morning. I was quite happy to skip my usual half-dead “come on, you know you’ll love it once you hit that footpath” pep talk and roll over for another quick snooze. Definitely a nice way to kick off the week.

The Black Hollies know what it’s like to dread that Monday morning wake up call – their reason for dragging themselves up seems to be the chance to drive past a hot girl on the way to work. Whatever gets you out of bed fellas…

Gloomy Monday Morning – The Black Hollies

Bonus track, and my first taste of their retro energetic sound:

Paisley Pattern Ground – The Black Hollies

Shoot The Player is run by a Sydney duo who shoot videos of (mostly) local Aussie acts performing in various areas around the city. Artists include Dead Letter Chorus, An Horse, Sarah Blasko, Kaki King, Port O’Brien, Vivian Girls, Andrew Bird, Amanda Palmer and more. It’s a fantastic site, and the films they make are high quality snapshots of artists performing in a casual setting, giving them a really personal feel.

The above Shoot The Player video is Ben Lee performing his version of MGMT’s ‘Kids’ in Rushcutter’s Bay Park, Sydney. Don’t expect to hear anything like the original though – Ben’s simple delivery gives it a totally different feel and while I like MGMT’s version, in many ways his cover is better because he gives it his own spin without diverting too far away from the original. I also like how the people in the park just go about their business, as if seeing Ben Lee wandering along playing his guitar is a normal everyday occurence.

I couldn’t find an mp3 of it, but I do have this version for you:

Kids (MGMT Cover) – The Kooks

As well as the original:

Kids – MGMT

And some bonus Ben Lee:

Catch My Disease – Ben Lee

Part of the problem with being a music freak is that I’m constantly on the lookout for the next best thing. I don’t mean that in a trendy way – I certainly don’t have any grand ambitions to be the blogger who introduces the world to the next big star or anything, but I am always on the hunt for performers who produce the kind of music that stops me in my tracks. You know the sort of thing, when you hear an artist for the first time and you’re like “Fuck yes! This is what I’ve been looking for!” And, if you’re like me, you’ll play the track or album over and over again and you’ll glory in those magical moments where the drums crash in or that riff takes over or the singer somehow stumbles upon those exact words that make your eyes mist over and your breath catch.

The problem with this neverending quest is just that – it’s neverending. I listen to so much music that quite often I don’t give it the attention it deserves. I’m so in love with those first few moments of discovery that I’m constantly on the hunt for more. That’s not a bad thing, but it does mean that I often overlook bands and don’t give them enough time to impress me. I don’t think I’m the only blogger that has this problem either.

The wonderful thing about this new digital age that we live in though, is that you can just leave tracks sitting on your computer or ipod until you’re ready to appreciate them properly. This track by the Bowerbirds came up on shuffle today and while I remember loving it months ago, I think I listened to it two or three times before it inevitably got lost in all the other music I was sampling at the time. I even posted it but neglected to write anything about it other than the fact it’s from their album Upper Air.

The track I refer to is ‘Northern Lights’ by US folk outfit Bowerbirds, and it’s simply beautiful. Gorgeous piano, lovely vocals and a smooth meandering melody.

I don’t need from you a waterfall of careless praise
And I don’t need a trophy for all the games I’ve played

But all I want is your eyes
In the morning as we wake
For a short while

Northern Lights – Bowerbirds

Image by Alissa Anderson, from the Bowerbirds website.

Nessun Dorma – Antony & the Roma Sinfonietta Orchestra

I Am The President Of Your Fan Club (And Last Night I Followed You Home) – Cancel The Astronauts

In The Morning Before Work – Owen

She Comes To Me – Adam Arcuragi

I’ve Been Asleep For A Long, Long Time – Hey Rosetta!

Goods (All In Your Head) – Mates Of State

A Time To Be So Small – Interpol

Aisle 13 – Built To Spill

Image from ffffound.com

Want one of your own? Head to The National shop and check out the current sale items. Wish I’d waited a little longer to buy mine – I shelled out top dollar two weeks ago, and I coulda saved myself some big bickies! But then I wouldn’t have the shirt now would I?

My first taste of The National was a random download of ‘All The Wine’. Back in January 2008 I wrote about listening to it for the first time as I walked down the street to the shops:

I think a couple of people mistook me for a crazy person as I ambled along the footpath grinning like an idiot and chuckling to myself, but what did I care? I had just discovered The National.

All The Wine – The National

And another one of my favourites:

You’re all humming live wires under your killing clothes.
Get over here, I wanna kiss your skinny throat
You’re a wasp nest, you’re a wasp nest

Wasp Nest – The National

A missive from Tim over at the Contrast Podcast:

November is upon us again, so it’s time to think about the Contrast Podcast Festive 50. This year it will be on episodes 194, 195 & 196 from the 15th to the 29th of December. So here is what I need you, your friends, the readers of your blog, your milkman and anyone else you know to do:
1. Choose up to 50 (yes fifty) songs that were released in 2009 that you like. If you can only think of 10 .. don’t worry .. I’d still like to know what they are.

5. Any questions? …. good … get thinking!

Last year’s Festive 50 was a ton of fun to participate in, and it’s not limited to bloggers – anyone can contribute. Today I started to compile my 2009 list, though it will require some serious re-listening in order to complete the agonising process of actually ranking each track.

Here are the top 5 tracks from last year:

5. Oxford Comma – Vampire Weekend

4. Lost Coastlines – Okkervil River

3. Grounds for Divorce – Elbow

2. Time to Pretend (Radio Version) – MGMT

1. White Winter Hymnal – Fleet Foxes

What will the Festive 50 look like this year? It’s up to you!

The Antlers stopped by Daytrotter recently, recording three tracks from Hospice as well as ‘Cold War’ from the Cold War EP. I’m still raving about these guys and nabbing every opportunity to talk them up whenever I can. If you’re lucky enough to be living in the Northern Hemisphere, you might have half a chance of checking them out live – head to their myspace for dates.

Two (Daytrotter Session) – The Antlers

Bonus coverage:

Nothing Matters When We’re Dancing (Magnetic Fields Cover) – The Antlers

I thought it would be fun to trawl through my archives every now and then and do a repost of whatever was up on the site this time one year ago. It’s also a quick and easy post that I can rig up and schedule beforehand to appear later on. I’m nothing if not lazy efficient.

On this day last year I posted a country version of ‘Teenage Dirtbag’ – check out the original post below.

As a rule, I can’t stand country music. The sound just grates against every fibre of my being. There are exceptions to this rule, but since they are so few I can’t remember what they are, and so can’t list them for you.

Side note: The original spent three weeks at #1 here back in 2000. Good lord, what a bunch of philistines we are.

Teenage Dirtbag (Wheatus Cover) – Adam Brand

Sunset down the river

There is nothing like the thudding of your feet on an old wooden bridge

This gum tree must be at least 500 years old

I don’t walk down this path anymore. Two weeks ago I almost stepped on a brown snake – they’re out early this year.

 Woody Brown River – Guillemots

Drops in the River – Fleet Foxes

Bonus coverage:

Many Rivers to Cross (Jimmy Cliff Cover) – Vika & Linda

The home studio of The Low Anthem

My coverage collection is pretty light on at the moment, but I do have a few gems to share with you.

I’m not a huge Dylan fan, but I love anything The Low Anthem guys get up to.

Dignity (Bob Dylan Cover) – The Low Anthem

I love the Guillemots version of Franz Ferdinand’s ‘Take Me Out’ – don’t let its slow beginning fool you, this is a chaotic romp much of the way through. Fun stuff.

Take Me Out (Franz Ferdinand Cover) – Guillemots

I quite like this Dawn Landes version of ‘Young Folks’, with its background singalong, plucking banjo and strings.

Young Folks (Peter, Bjorn & John Cover) – Dawn Landes

This take on Band Of Horses ‘Funeral’ (a truly magnificent song) is really quite lovely. Though it lacks the buildup and crashing climax of the original, its more muted sound makes for a pleasant listen.

Funeral (Band Of Horses Cover) – Serena Ryder & The Beauties