The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion - Experimental Remixes

So here's a big ol' EP for y'all to listen to. All (except 'Tour Diary') are remixes of what were already great tracks off the LP 'Orange', by various luminaries of the time (and indeed still now). Some of them are as you might expect, especially Beck (which he sings on) and Moby (which sounds like a Moby track). 'Tour Diary' is a 17:13 epic, with bits of live (practice?) recordings, bits of interviews (q: "can a white man sing the blues?" a: "... he shaves his eyebrows.") I have to be honest and say I've not made it all the way through track 7, but I'm sure someone out there is braver than me.

I don't have the original CD with me now, so I can't be sure, but it seems that the labelling of tracks 2 and 3 is wrong, as Beck is clearly singing on track 3 - these listings are what iTunes told me. Either way, it's all good, and I won't be offended if you change the names.

1. Bellbottoms (Old Rascal Mix - U.N.K.L.E.)
2. Flavor Part 1 (Beck)
3. Flavor Part 2 (Mike D)
4. Soul Typecast (Dub Narcotic Sound System)
5. Greyhound Part 1 (Moby)
6. Greyhound Part 2 (Featuring Killah Priest)
7. Tour Diary

It's right here...

p.s. Although August hasn't exactly been a flurry of posts, September's going to be even worse, as I won't be around for the first couple of weeks - check back soon!

The Divine Comedy - The Frog Princess

Here's a band that, whenever I listen to them, I wish I knew a bit more of their stuff. I've just never really got round to it, apart from singles, and watching a live DVD once. They (he, really) are very, very good though. Great lyrics, and great tunes too. This one is a prime example, as are the b-sides. The 'demo' b-side is a great example of what you can do with a Casio and some talent... 'Tonight We Fly' is a fine song too.

If you like this, or even if you don't, you should check out The Duckworth Lewis Method album. It's all about cricket, which we English are right back into since Sunday (even while I'm in Tokyo, where just two bars in a city about 15 times bigger than London were showing it).

Anyway, enough of this. Enjoy Mr Hannon at his very finest.

1. The Frog Princess
2. Something Before The Weekend (Demo)
3. Neptune's Daughter
4. Tonight We Fly

Fact into doubt won't go.

Garbage - Stupid Girl

I started buying the 7"s by these guys just after they released the last one which is still worth a fortune. I think I have one in a cardboard cover with a kind of hologram on the front, but it was the early ones which you can sell for a bucketload of money. Or you used to be able to, for sure.

Anyway, this is a good track, and I was reminded how good when I listened to it earlier this evening. The b-sides are good too, especially the Red Snapper mix, which is great, and highly recommended. If you like either of the bands you'll enjoy it. 'Driving Lesson' does, I'd have to say, sound a little like it wouldn't have made an album, but the mixes are cool. If you don't know the band at all then 'Stupid Girl' is quite a good introduction, you should check out the first LP if you like it.

1. Stupid Girl
2. Driving Lesson
3. Dog New Tricks (The Pal Mix)
4. Stupid Girl (Red Snapper Mix)

Here you go.

Placebo - Teenage Angst

Given that this is my second Placebo post, it must give the impression I'm a big fan. I'm not, to be honest, but I was really into their first LP a few years back, so have got various singles off it.

This one wins its place because it was a two-7" set, which went into its own gatefold sleeve. Sweet. I don't have long to tell you about it, but essentially it's of interest to Placebo fans, b-side wise, until you get to the last track - 'H.K. Farewell' - which is great. The rest aren't so good (but if you like the band you'll enjoy hearing them).

The single itself was the first track I ever heard by them, on a John Peel show many years ago, and loved it. It's still a killer tune, but my God those lyrics should have warned me about the rest of their career...

7" one:
1. Teenage Angst
2. Been Smoking Too Long
3. Hug Bubble

7" two:
1. Teenage Angst (Amsterdam V.P.R.O. Session)
2. Flesh Mechanic (Demo)
3. H.K. Farewell

First 7" is here, second is here. Enjoy! (And sorry about the crappy vinyl!)

The Pastels - Worlds Of Possibility

Hey hey. Sorry for the delay, but I've been having all kinds of trouble sorting out the internet in Japan, the home of modern technology... Masters of hardware, but not of software. Teenage Fanclub were playing a festival in Tokyo tonight, but I checked ticket prices and they clocked in at over £120 just for today. Goddamnit. I did see Lee Ranaldo near a record shop in Shibuya yesterday, though.

So, this is The Pastels, who were (are?) one of Scotland's finest under-rated bands, along with The BMX Bandits and others. This track is off 'Mobile Safari', which is an awesome record, and if you like this you'll love that album. And you'll love 'Truckload Of Trouble' even more. The single is great, and is reprised at the end of track 4 - a hidden track on a single, how cool is that? The first two b-sides are classic Pastels, especially track 3's singing, and track 4 is a cover, but I don't know who did the original. Anyone..?

1. Worlds Of Possibility
2. Photogram
3. Ever Far
4. Love It's Getting Better

Here.