Paperjam

Tracks of 2006 : Jim

Music // Jim // 8th January 2007

Well it has been a hectic musical year for me, mostly in the gig-going sense but there have been a few tracks that have piqued my interest, made my feet tap and the slightest mention of which have caused Steve to look like he is going to disembowel me with that Stanley knife that he has taken to carrying “just in case”.
Anyhow here is my dreary selection, none of which make me want to take all my clothes off, then dance in the rain, like a robot.

Nag Nag Nag Nag by Art Brut
In one word: Admirable.
Not the best thing that they have ever done, but in a year bereft of other Brutular activity it was very welcome indeed. Introduced by Eddie Argos as a blues song about being in your mid-twenties, its got a belting chorus about reducing your record collection to a mix-tape an going off in a strop.

Elevator Music by Beck
In one word: Chunky.
This is the first track off The Information and probably the best. The sort of thing that, when it comes on your ipod while walking along, will make you strut like a total prick. The playing of the mobile phone at the end probably eclipses the beer can opening on Totally Confused as the best ever Beck sound effect.

Lloyd, I’m Ready to be Heartbroken by Camera Obscura
In a word: Tuneful.
Sold itself to me on the strength of the title alone, this is four minutes of upbeat feyness in the mould of Belle and Sebastian with a highly catchy chorus. Video is absolutely shocking. It isn’t often that I am in a position to say this, but cheer up love, for fucks sake.

Life Is A Pigsty by Morrissey
In one word: Cathartic.
Obviously I’ve got to have at least one really properly miserable song on this list and then don’t come much more down than this two-part epic. As I’ve said previously the bit where he croons “Life is a pigsty - and if you don’t know this, then what do you know?” is absolutely amazing. Saw Mozzer at the V festival and this really fitted in with the standing in the pissing rain, half up to my knees in mud vibe in a strangely uplifting way.

Robot Man by The Aliens
In one word: Chirpy.
Born of bits of the legendary Beta Band, The Aliens graced the Birmingham Barfly earlier in the year on a freezing cold night where I got pissed and totally failed to chat up the barmaid in the pub down the road. Still the band were great and this, although far too happy for my usual tastes, went down an absolute treat. Really nice blokes too.

Loughborough Suicide by The Young Knives
In one word: Ace.
Hadn’t heard of this lot until I saw them in a tent at the V festival, they played this during their set and I fucking loved it. As soon as I was back in the house and had removed the inch thick layer of sweat, dirt and spliff smoke I got straight on the internet to download it. Classic punky, indie music with a plaintive loser’s refrain of “I’ll never go down fighting” to keep things faintly miserable. A winner in every way.

Fat Children by Jarvis Cocker
In one word: Upset.
Although Running The World has grabbed all the attention and Don’t Let Him Waste Your Time is fab (with one of the best videos I’ve seen in ages), this is the stand out track on The Jarvis Cocker Album. By far the thrashiest thing I can ever remember Jarv doing, albeit with the slice of life/state of the nation lyrical verve that you would expect.

Free Radicals by The Flaming Lips
In one word: Energising.
While I wouldn’t always consider myself the luckiest man alive, I have been fortunate enough to see the majestic Lips not once but twice this year. Both times this got the crowd going absolutely barking. Which goes to prove that stop-start squealing guitar histrionics in a prince stylee involving a double-necked guitar don’t need to be consigned to the dustbin of history. Following video is a touch shonky, but definitely gives a flavour of what you can expect at one of their gigs.

Knights Of Cydonia by Muse
In one word: Baroque.
Yeah, I know Super Massive Black Hole is loads better but there is a certain unhinged charm to all six ridiculously overblown minutes of this. Is it the horse noises? The Klaxons? The big guitar riffs? No it’s probably by bit where Bellamy screams “No ones gonna taaaake meeeeeee aliiiiiiivvveee” that always puts a smile on my face. Plus he looks like a really ill Brett Anderson, which really is very ill indeed.