mlr

Hadyn has passed along a great way to pass the time and pad out my blog: set iTunes to shuffle and note the first 10 songs to play, then make a note as to why it's in my collection. He's also got the absolute best title for the blog entry, so I'm not even going to try. Well, iPod set to shuffle, here goes:

1. It's Not Me by Supergrass (from "In it for the Money"). I've liked Supergrass ever since I saw the video for "It's Alright" on TV. Great video, great (and extremely catchy) single. And they've just went on from there really. "In it for the Money", as with all Supergrass albums, is chock full of toe-tappingly great songs.
2. Call to You by Trinity Roots (from "True"). Not my favourite song from the album, but overall a very strong album. Just so cruisy, very NZ. The kind of album I'd listen to overseas if I was getting homesick.
3. Alpha Male by Røyksopp (from "The Understanding"). Aaah, Røyksopp. The only band I know of from Norway, and by implication the best band I know of from Norway. But for all those Norwegians out there, also one of the best bands I know of fullstop. Their first album, "Melody AM", is in my top 10. "The Understanding" isn't quite as strong, but better than most. Coincidentally, Alpha Male is my favourite track from the album.
4. Signal to Noise by Peter Gabriel (from "Up"). Unfortunately, although Up is not up to the quality of his first few albums ("Peter Gabriel 1" through "4" and "So", as well as the absolutely incredible "Passion" — by far the best soundtrack I've ever heard), Pete's still got that theatrical quality which makes him one of my most favourite artists ever.
5. Mathar (Discovery of India Mix) by Indian Vibes (from "The Outernational Sound"). This is a mix album from the kings of lounge beats, the super-suave duo, Thievery Corporation. I have no idea who or what Indian Vibes is. But it's very Indian, in a laid-back, loungey, Thievery Corporation way.
6. Share the Info by Che Fu (from "Navigator"). Another very NZ album, although obviously more influenced by hip-hop than the roots that influence Trinity Roots. I could just say I bought this album to help out NZ artists, but I'd be lying; I bought it because it is really good.
7. Dirty Epic by Underworld (playing from the "1992-2002" best of album, but originally on "Dubnobasswithmyheadman", which I also have). If you're an electronica fan you absolutely must have at least two Underworld albums in your collection: the aforementioned "Dubnobasswithmyheadman" and "Second Toughest in the Infants" (Born Slippy, what can you say?). Other albums are optional, but strongly encouraged. Underworld have unfortunately slipped a little since Darren Emerson left, and after not liking what I heard initially I haven't even bothered to listen to "A Hundred Days Off" in its entirety.
8. Evacuee by Enya (from "Shepherd Moons"). Oh no! An Enya track just had to turn up, didn't it? I'm not embarrassed. No, really. Everyone's got a secret vice, right?
9. Doctor? by Orbital (from "The Altogether"). Oh yes! If there's one track that can redeem my Enya fetish, it's this one, a Dr Who theme tune remix that satisfies two of my other fetishes: electronica music and Dr Who. This track rocks! No ifs, no buts. Play it loud. The album isn't the Hartnoll brothers' best one by a country mile; "In Sides" is my all time favourite — and in my overall top 10 — although many people go for the "Brown Album", and "Snivilisation" and "Middle of Nowhere" aren't slackers either.
10. Cominagetcha by the Propellerheads (from "Decksanddrumsandrockandroll"). Ah, big beat. Take a beat and make it big. The Propellerheads' forte. I have heard neither hide nor hair of them since this album.

Wow, not a bad selection, if I do say so myself. I haven't totally embarrassed myself, which is a good way to keep score.

(PS I would have added links to www.allmusic.com, but good as the depth of data is, the front end is atrocious: slow and sometimes it doesn't come up with a linkable URL, just their amg.dll file. Very annoying. I can't be bothered fighting it to make life easier for you. Just do a Google search instead!)