A native of Washington, DC, Lissy Trullie got her start playing solo acoustic shows. In 2009 her band came out of the gates running, embarking upon their first national tour as they worked towards the release of their EP in February. Self-Taught Learner garnered positive reactions from the likes of Spin, The New Yorker, Rolling Stone, Stereogum and many others.
Billy Idol / Eyes Without A Face I don’t think I had ever actually gave this song a good listen, nor did I know I had this track until about a year ago when I had my iPod on shuffle and it came on. I kept it on repeat for an embarrassing length of time. It’s addictive. From the bass line to the 80s guitar solo, and even the spoken word rap, at the bridge. All dated-ness aside, it’s a great ballad. I still listen to it on a regular basis.
Brooklyn-based Clare and the Reasons, fronted by collaborators Clare and Olivier Manchon, has been very busy making music, touring through Europe many times, Japan and the US. The band has a steady list of contributors (the ‘Reasons), with a lot of instruments — cellos, violas, things to hit, kazoos, baby kotos, saws, recorders. In 2007, the band released their debut LP, The Movie, which got significant praise. The band have just released their sophomore album Arrow on Frog Stand Records.
The Everly Brothers / So Sad (To Watch Good Love Go Bad) The Everly Brothers are my favorite harmonizers, something about DNA that just kicks everything else to the curb. I love this sad, sad song, how they wallow in all the ‘used to have love’ pity and wear it all on their sleeves. This is just an example of a perfect song recorded perfectly, not overdone. A simple beauty.
Miniature Tigers first burst into our minds — and eardums — when Rolling Stone magazine named them in their December 2006 issue as being ‘one of the 25 best bands on Myspace‘. Since then the Phoenix, Arizona indie rock band have released two EPs, and a critically acclaimed long player, Tell it to the Volcano, which came out in August of this year.
The Kinks / Sunny Afternoon This song gives me great mental imagery when I listen to it. I feel like I’m going through it with him. Just when you think you know The Kinks, you discover all these songs you’ve never heard.
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.
