It Always Catches Up With You In The End

Ok.

So another year is just about over.

If you’re feeling in need of cheer then look no further. For your enjoyment I have listed below my Christmas Comp and the reasons I choose the songs.

Again, I doubt very much that this will interest anyone, but hey, its my blog.

1. Song For The Road – David Ford.
David Ford has got to be my favourite singer ever. This song is not at present available to purchase in the UK and was recorded from an American TV programme earlier this year. Its just fantastic.

2. Staring Down The Sun – Josh Pyke
Found this guy through i-Tunes a while back. His mini album ‘Feeding The Wolves’ is full of very good songs, this one however I believe to be the best. Its one of those songs that goes in your ears and creates images effortlessly in your mind. Beautiful.

3. How To Save A Life – The Fray
This song recently featured in an episode of ‘Scrubs’. It fit so perfectly and the whole thing was so full of passion I immediately had to own it.

4. Fade Into You – Mazzy Star
This song is from 1993. I’d just turned 15 and I think the elder brother of my girlfriend at the time used to play this album. I rediscovered it this year, and this song is my favourite, its so chilled its almost asleep.

5. The Scientist – Coldplay
It’s a great song. Used to perfection in ‘Wicker Park’. Watch that film by the way.

6. Chasing Cars – Snow Patrol
My favourite from the new album. Powerful song.

7. The Car That Sped – Gene
This is from 1995. Its one of those ones that I owned on tape, and hadn’t got round to getting on CD. Finally got it this year, and still liked this track enough to whack it on here.

8. Rest Stop – Matchbox Twenty
Got a few friends who are big Matchbox fans, and I never really could see it. However I heard this track a while back and really liked the imagery.

9. If There’s Any Justice – James Blunt
This is a bit of a strange one as I have got sick of Mr Blunt this year, but I heard this cover of some pop factor academy guy’s song on the ‘Live Lounge’ CD and I quite like it. Not sure for how long though.

10. Paperweight – Schuyler Fisk & Joshua Radin
This song is on the soundtrack for ‘The Last Kiss’ and is another chilled end of the evening sofa song. Maybe.

11. Naïve – The Kooks
Its time to pick the pace up a little. Not sure how I got this album, but this tune makes me tap my foot and that’s always good. As long as it doesn’t actually make me dance, cos that’s a very bad thing.

12. Once More With Feeling – Get Cape Wear Cape Fly
Think I got this album mainly because the name is probably the best I’d heard all year. Its nice song too, so that’s a bonus.

13. Until I Die – Ben Kweller
This guy is great. New album just out, this is my pick from it.

14. Goodnight – Easyworld
Got to have an Easyworld song on a compilation, its practically the law. This one’s great, its starts all nice and slow and then picks up a bit then practically stops then really goes for it. I love the last couple of lines too.

15. Lost Myself – Longpigs
One From 1996 and again one of those tape not CD things. I love this song, and I have to admit that I have recently been guilty of turning it up real loud in the car and screaming it out. Nevermind Eh? Just don’t tell anyone.

16. Twist & Shout – The Beatles
It’s the Beatles. Enough said.

17. Stan The Man – Adam Sandler
Right starting to get a little silly now. This is a song about Adam Sandler’s Dad. Its pretty cool.

18. Ode To A Superhero – Weird Al Yankovic
Slightly sillier, this is song about Spiderman... and I do love Spiderman… in a manly way mind.

19. Have Yourself A Bitter Little Christmas – David Ford
We end how we began, with the Genius that is David Ford. This is my new top all time favourite Christmas song ever. Its fantastic.

I hope the few (one) people (person) who have (has) read this have (has) enjoyed it. If not, Nevermind Eh?

Have a good 2007.

Lates.

Matt.

Christmas Is Nearly Here

Yes it is.

And I know that means many of you will be rubbing your hands together in glee at the prospect of getting a new Christmas comp from yours truly...

or something.

Anyway.

I thought it'd be easy this year. I had this great idea that all I’d do is set up a smart playlist in i-Tunes showing all the songs I'd added in the last year and then pick the best 18 songs from the couple of hundred on it.

The initial part of this plan went well. However, when I looked at the list, I discovered that rather than a few hundred songs I had in fact added one thousand, seven hundred and two.

I'll put that in numbers for you: 1702.

Now its a good job that I didn't buy all these songs from Virgin or the like, cos I reckon they would have cost me somewhere in the region of £2210. Therefore a big YAY for the double-yew double-yew double-yew, oh, and mates what mumble mumble mumble.

So basically I've got my work cut out for me.

One thing I can tell you is that this years collection will in fact contain, for the first time ever, I kid you not, a Christmas song.

Wait with baited breath.

Seriously.

Lates.

Matt.

What Have We Got Here?

I made my annual Christmas CD to give to people so I can avoid doing cards or presents. I thought I might put the track listings here, and why I picked each song. This is probably of no use to anyone, so I wont be offended if you skip it.

1. Superman - Lazlo Bane.
This track is the music at the start of Scrubs. I've got into Scrubs big time this year and this tune is book and does a good job of summing up a lot of life.

2. Metarie - Brendan Benson.
Can't actually remember how I found this guy, But his music is very nice and chilled and his lyrics often take back to places in my past.

3. I Don't Care What You Call Me - David Ford.
David Ford is amazing. Found him by accident through iTunes. Didn't realise he was the ex-lead singer of Easyworld until later. His whole album is amazing, but this track is my favourite and probably my tune of the year. It is so powerful and emotive. Again it takes me back in time in my head. Book.

4. Goodbye My Lover - James Blunt.
I bought James Blunt's album quite a while back, played it far too much and got sick of it. I left it alone for a while and when I can back to it this song stuck out. Another powerful one.

5. Just Friends - Gavin DeGraw.
He's another one that I can't quite remember how I found. His album is cool, a mix of quiet and loud songs. This song is cool. n'shit.

6. My Curse - The Afghan Whigs.
I bought this album way back in the day on tape and loved it, especially this song. Being loathed to buy something I already had, it wasn't until very recently that I finally purchased the CD. I picked this song because it reminds me of being 14 and everything that meant.

7. I Want Everything - Cracker.
This is another album that I bought years ago and only recently got on CD. I had forgotten how good it is and had to put a song on my CD. This is my favourite.

8. Further – Longview
I think I was introduced to this band by my friend 'The Jew' This is a cool song, nice and rocking. Again - n'shit.

9. Tumble And Fall - Feeder.
I bought this album earlier in the year and was immediately attracted to this song. Its a song that's great to sing along to.

10. Late - Ben Folds.
This man is a living legend. I went to see him play this year and he rocked. This song is about Elliott Smith and its beautiful, full of excellent imagery.

11. Lack Of Colour - Death Cab For Cutie.
I discovered this band, rather embarrassingly after reading Phil Collins' Playlist on iTunes. They are a band with cool songs and a very cool sounds.

12. Junkies And Whores - Easyworld.
My good friend 'Floop' introduced my to this band last year sometime. They are alas no more, but the couple of albums they did release are excellent. They were a very underrated band who should have been massive.

13. I Will Survive - Cake.
This is a song I first heard at University. I've been looking for it for ages and managed to track it down recently. Its a little weird and takes a bit of getting used to, but it reminds me of being drunk and happy in Winchester so hey, nevermind.

14. I Melt With You - Nouvelle Vague.
This song is the one the mobile phone advert where the girl knows what's going to happen. I like it, its chilled and funky. N'shit.

15. Chasing Rainbows - Shed Seven.
Another old song that I got this year. Fantastic memories surround it so that's why its here.

16. God Only Knows - The Beach Boys.
Its the Beach Boys. What else do I need to say. Its my favourite of their tracks at the moment.

17. Cool In A Crisis - The Pooh Sticks.
This is yet again another old song I've recently got on CD. Its a fantastic bit of pop, and reminds me of a girl I never knew but always wanted to.

18. Accidentally In Love - Counting Crows.
Always got to have a Counting Crows song on any CD. Due to lack of a new album, I picked this one from the Shrek 2 soundtrack.

19. They - Jem.
This song is excellent. I love to play it really loud with the base up and let it bounce round my house knocking stuff of the shelves.

Well there you go. Whether or not you enjoyed reading that, hopefully you will enjoy listening to the CD.

Lates.

Matt.