Kaiser Chiefs Dominate the Blogs (Plus Covers)

Kaiser Chiefs’ new album Yours Truly, Angry Mob is currently bouncing around the blogs this week, in advance of its release on Tuesday.

I heard some tracks via noise for toasters and I really loved them. Their sound is a little lighter than on Employment. I haven’t heard the whole album yet, obviously, but I am very excited to get it.

Go read noise for toasters and hear the tracks and then pre-order it on Amazon.

Here are a few covers by or of the Kaiser Chiefs:

Kaiser Chiefs, What Time is Love (KLF cover from the Live Lounge).

Lily Allen, Oh My God (Kaiser Chiefs cover).

McFly, I Predict A Riot (Kaiser Chiefs cover from the Live Lounge).

Buy Yours Truly, Angry Mob on Amazon.

 

Covers Only I Could Love – BBC Radio 1’s Live Lounge

Last year, I rediscovered my love of British Pop and British Rock and all the music in between (really, that’s like all the music from A to B).

In rediscovering this music, I found songs from the BBC Radio 1’s Live Lounge, which are actually wonderful.

Just in case there is anyone in the world who wants to hear how Pharrell’s Frontin’ sounds being performed by Jamie Cullum, this is the post for you.

Frontin’, Jamie Cullum.

Originally written and performed by Pharrell, Jamie Cullum transforms a catchy hip-hop track into a catchier jazzy pop song. I listen to it way more than I should.

As a direct result of hearing this song, I bought Jamie Cullum’s 2004 album. Nothing on it capitvated me as much as this song.

Mp3: Frontin’ by Jamie Cullum

Naive, Lily Allen.

This is the song that introduced me to Lily Allen, who became beloved and then reviled by music bloggers in a few short months (and before her album was ever released in the US.

It was written and performed by The Kooks, another British band I adore. (Alone, apparently.) As I have mentioned in my Best of 2006, I love this song in all its versions and this is the first version I had heard.

Mp3: Naive, Lily Allen

 

My Top Songs of 2006

Since I lost my collection multiple times from July – November, I can’t say for certain which songs I listened to most in 2006, aside from the bands/labels with whom I worked.

My music preferences shifted a bit in 2006. I started listening to much more indie music and following some of the indie blogs more closely. My preferences over the past few years have been much more funk, soul, r&b, and hip-hop, but now I am reincorporating much more.

My current favorite song is the acoustic demo “Temple.” I can hear it five times in a row and love it as much each time. I also can hear how excellent it sounds currently on the rough mix and imagine how it will sound live and on the next EP. It’s an excellent song, and the guys should be really, really proud.

Here are what I think were my top non-client songs:

One Evening, Feist.

I heard it for the first time on the Hike and Bike and I could not get home fast enough to figure out who and what the hell this was. It was an iTunes free download and I was absolutely capitivated. To me, it has a lounge-y Montréal vibe that fit beautifully with my trips to Montréal. Plus, it got me listening to everything by Feist, and other songs that hit that same feel, including some chanson. Any song that can do that makes my list any year.

Naive, The Kooks/Lily Allen.

I first heard the Lily Allen Live Lounge cover and I loved it. Then I had to go find the Kooks. I have three versions of the song on iTunes and they get equal play — the sign of a great pop song.

Munich, Editors/Corinne Bailey Rae.

The original and the cover are two very different songs. Each completely compelling, but with very different meanings.

Morris Brown, OutKast.

Because of the “soundtrack” tag, people slept on this album. Morris Brown is destined to be a classic, and I will keep forcing it on everyone I know.

Wamp Wamp (What it Do), Clipse.

Despite my entreaties to have D cover it, I think it will remain untouched. Still I have gotten it stuck in the minds of many of my compatriots, and that’s almost good enough.

Is It Any Wonder, Keane.

This is a great song. The performance, lyrics, and that driving rhythm send me and I sing it at the top of my lungs every time it comes on. For that, I apologize to the neighbors.

Until Yesterday, JC Chasez.

Never in my life did I think I would love a song by this joker, especially after the suck he perpetrated on “Some Girls Dance with Women.” Thanks to Idolator, I have a new addition to my 5 star list. It has an American 80s vibe, which feels retro and current simultaneously.

Standing On My Own Again, Graham Coxon.

Thanks to Stereogum. What can I say, it reminds me of my youth.

SexyBack, Justin Timberlake.

A distractingly great club song. Watching the family dance to this at our impromptu Christmas party was a blast and cemented the generational appeal. I am sure ours was not the only family dancing to this one over the holidays. But maybe we were.

White Daisy Passing, Rocky Votolato.

A free iTunes track. It’s acoustic, but it has a soulful vibe.

Seems To Be On My Mind, Suburban Kids with Biblical Names.

One of the best band names I have heard in a while. It’s a jaunty song I can imagine being sung by people getting progressively drunker. Plus, it has two changes in the middle, which automatically bumps it higher for me.

The rest of my top songs are a combination of OutKast, Lily Allen, the Kooks, Artic MOnkeys, Phoenix, TTC and all of the covers from Live Lounge. Oh, yeah, and Crazy. Perfect song for a wacky year.