There’s something about the kind of potent rock and roll fury that Airbourne cranks out, all cylinders firing, that makes you want to chug a beer straight down your throat and punch the air as though it’d touched your wife inappropriately. It sounds crude, we admit. But that’s the thing about these Aussie pub rock rebels. Their music, like new album No Guts. No Glory., are perfect soundtracks for drunken debauchery, and “that’s what we’re here for, mate,” says rowdy lead guitarist and vocalist Joel O’Keeffe.
Charlie Daniels Band / The Devil Went Down To Georgia It has an awesome story and even more amazing fiddle playing. For a country song, it ROCKS!
Miss Derringer would be the soundtrack to a roller coaster ride in the tiny town that Beetlejuice pops out of. If Beetlejuice was made in 2009 and his merry townsfolk were the members that surround frontwoman Liz McGrath. Their album, Winter Hill, was released via Nickle and Dime Records and Triple X Records.
Shangri Las / Past, Present, Future I love the Shangri Las. They are one of my all-time most influential bands. This song is great because it is so heavy handed. This woman is talking about something terrible that happened to her, and we’re not sure if it’s some sort of assault, or just the horror of lost love. It’s done in this super over the top way and is so sincere it’s great.
Before teaming with Airgo Music in 2008, Frankie Negron was signed by WEA at the age of 17, releasing seven albums between 1997 and 2003. He spent the next three years and two albums with Sony Music. Over the years, Frankie Negron has received several Latin Grammy Award nominations, multiple Billboard Award nods, and two Premio Lo Nuestro Awards for Song of the Year. His latest release is Independence Day, his first album in three years and his first album in English
Bruce Springsteen / Born to Run Whenever I hear this song, I crank it up all the way. It’s definitely one of my all time favorites. Any time I’m driving down the Jersey Turnpike and need a pick me up, this is the song I play. Jersey Baby!
From Glasgow, Scotland, Twin Atlantic have been the main support for bands such as Circa Survive, Biffy Clyro, Lostprophets, Finch, Thrice, Funeral for a Friend, and The Smashing Pumpkins.
Nirvana / In Bloom I love this track for it’s childlike melody. In fact, talking about Nirvana this way kind of ruins the band for me, so I’ll just say I love the lyrics and the bridge section in the middle that builds suspense but also has rubber duck squeaks and an awesome guitar melody that they pay off with at the end.
Depending on your background, the term “power trio” may bring to mind the ’60s sonic depth-charges launched by the Jimi Hendrix Experience and Cream; the twisty prog-rock styles of mid-70s King Crimson and Rush. Or the post-grunge bash of Seether and Wolfmother. In the case of Civil Twilight, as evidenced on their self-titled debut album, the term means all of that. And much more.
Grizzly Bear / Two Weeks I love this whole album. In fact, our whole band has been getting into it and really enjoying it. It’s a super creative and fun album that seems to transport one to a magical world of sounds and pictures, melodies, rhythms and harmonies that the Beach Boys would be proud of.
Things have been non-stop for the Ivor Novello nominated Ben’s Brother (aka Jamie Hartman) lately. Having worked hard on his new album, Battling Giants, Ben’s Brother was all set to release it on his own label Flatcap Records when Island Records stepped in and proposed taking it to a more international level. Packed with an impressive list of guest artists, such as Joss Stone and Jason Mraz, as well as song writing collaborations with Natalie Imbruglia, Battling Giants is set to be a hit.
Kings Of Leon / Closer Best start to an album for years. As soon as the first snare hits, you know you’re in for something good. And then his voice kicks in.
The Fratellis wasted no time in becoming Scotland’s biggest musical export thanks to their 2006 Tony Hoffer (Beck, Air) produced debut album, Costello Music. Their hit singles Henrietta, Creeping Up The Backstairs, Whistle For The Choir and the epic Chelsea Dagger helped define the summer of 2006/07. The Fratellis latest release, Here We Stand, is a ferocious, glam-tinged, handclap-assisted stomper of a sophomore album.
Bruce Springsteen / Thunder Road I love Bruce Springsteen. There’s a level of cheese that if you go over it becomes really great. Springsteen is probably the most underestimated songwriter in rock n’ roll. I’m not sure if this is his best song, but today, it’s my favourite.
Glasgow’s Attic Lights this week released a new single, Late Night Sunshine, a joyful rush of pop harmonies, through Island Records. Lifted from their debut album, Friday Night Lights, which was released in September. By their own admission, the band are five likely lads ‘brought up on a diet of Beach Boys, Flaming Lips and deep fried Mars Bars’.
Massive Attack / Unfinished Sympathy Perhaps my favorite song of all time and a constant on my iPod, it makes my heart swell up every time I hear it. I can’t get sick of it. It might also have the most perfect tempo any song has ever had!
The Duke Spirit are one of the UK’s most exciting and dynamic rock bands. Their second studio album, Neptune, was produced by the Godfather of Stoner rock, Chris Goss, (Kyuss, Queens of the Stone Age and Soulwax), and was released almost two years after their debut album, Cuts Across the Land, which belonged more to the illustrious British lineage of My Bloody Valentine and Jesus And Mary Chain than to any contemporary ‘rock’ scene.
Bo Diddley / Who Do You Love? Still a pure statement of rock and roll intention. Gunslingin’ Bo marshaling an awesome collection of imagery into his persona, a rattlesnake-hide house with a skull chimney. A black ex-boxer, hard as nails, female guitarist, stand up drums, all in the late 50s, proper rock n’ roll pissing upon Elvis, Buddy Holly and the rest.
My Secret Playlist is a music discovery website and weekly email publication. We invite our favourite bands and musicians to give us the rundown on their eight favourite songs right now. These are their words on the music that inspires them.
