The Idea of Progress: mp3

21 July 2007

Five Songs That You Must Have In Your Life

1. "You're Gonna Miss Me," The 13th Floor Elevators (1966)
The first psychedelic rock band, hailing from Austin, TX. When I got dumped by my last girlfriend, this was the song I was thinking of. You can almost imagine lead singer Roky Erickson snarling while he sings it. Also a band with a fascinating history. Check out the link to their Wikipedia entry. Also chosen because I'm seeing a documentary about Erickson on Tuesday.

2. "Young Bride," Midlake (2006)
This is such a wistful, melancholy, cinematic song. It gave me chills the first time I heard it. Still does.

3. "We Throw Parties, You Throw Knives," Los Campesinos!, mp3 (2007)

I only got this song a couple of weeks ago, and I can't get enough of it. Cheery indie pop, plus murder!

4. "Pyjamarama," Roxy Music, (1973)
A band that was so good that Brian Eno was fired from it, and they still ruled. I saw them referred to as a band Oscar Wilde would have liked, and I find it hard to disagree with that.

5. "Jackie," Scott Walker (1968)
Walker is such a visionary musician that he can still put out albums thirty years later (The Drift) and freak people out. This is a bizzare Jacques Brel cover that the Flaming Lips often use as introductory music for their concerts.