[Series] AK's Weekly Mix Tape

[ak]

Alright, guys, I have decided to get a little organized in my music recommendations, besides the occasional album reviews I do.

The thing is I try to listen to a lot of old and contemporary music (on the radio and MP3s), and want to share the love.

The format of this series will be the following:

- Weekly playlist; every Saturday (US-time), or Sunday (UAE time)
- Tracks will be a *mix* of old and contemporary nature -- 3 tracks for starter; more if there is demand
- No particular theme for song selection for now
- I will try and post a YouTube video/ track, whenever available

Here goes...


Week #1: April 11, 2009

1) Tom Waits -- "Sea of Love" [Sea of Love - OST/ 1989]
We all know that eponymous song from that film, you know the one that refuses to leave your head for several hours once you hear it? Well, fuck that, this is not that song, but the Tom Waits cover and I absolutely love it!

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/nVJAW-ag7fs&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/nVJAW-ag7fs&rel=1</a>

2) Iggy Pop & The Stooges -- "Shake Appeal (Tight Pants)" [Original Punks/ 1973]
Their influence on punk is beyond moot, from the Sex Pistols (Sid Vicious loved to perform this song) to The Cure to Jack White. Total coolness.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/L6gUsXJPync&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/L6gUsXJPync&rel=1</a>

3) PJ Harvey & John Parish -- "Pig Will Not" [A Woman A Man Walked By/ 2009]
I've been listening to this new album from the lovely and creepy PJ Harvey and British producer John Parish, who are both burning up the US alt-radio waves with this album, plus touring and playing several cities. This is the most grungy of all the tracks, also the most mad and savage. Reminds me of the stuff Nick Cave would do. My favorite on A Woman A Man Walked By.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/PH6SplzqTkE&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/PH6SplzqTkE&rel=1</a>
If embedding on this video is disabled, click again on clip to go directly on YouTube and listen to this track there.

[ak]

It's that time of the week, boys and girls (OK, boys and more boys). I bet you could not sleep last night, waiting for...

Week #2: April 18, 2009

1) Omar Souleyman -- "Leh Jani" [Highway to Hassake: Folk and Pop Sounds of Syria/ 2007]
I fucking love this song! Heard it play on a radioshow and then researched Omar Souleyman -- he has an entire CD with insanely glorious oddities such as this! I'm really digging this "bedouin style." And how can you possibly resist with that awesome video, lol

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/pgRUHIeaKOk&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/pgRUHIeaKOk&rel=1</a>

2) Vetiver -- "Everyday" [Tight Knight/ 2009]
I'm really into alt-folk/rock and this is my great discovery via the Sub Pop label, which I monitor. Not necessarily my favorite track from their excellent album Tight Knit, but worth it for the cute video. Also, the strong acoustics and electric guitar on this cut make it pitch-perfect for your next Oscar-friendly American indie film.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/r1ucjICXSYQ&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/r1ucjICXSYQ&rel=1</a>

3) Bat for Lashes -- "Travelling Woman" [Two Suns/ 2009]
Bat for Lashes is the pseudonym for Natasha Khan, a Pakistani-English singer/songwriter who is ready for primetime with her new, second album Two Suns. She's a very smart and articulate musician who is also an aesthete, and I will be writing a full review of her album soon; but, for the time being enjoy "Daniel," her most accessible track (also the first single), a beguiling mix of Knife-esque 80s pop, classical viola and shoegaze. (Daniel refers to The Karate Kid.)

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/00ZHah-c0hQ&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/00ZHah-c0hQ&rel=1</a>