The Toronto Star called him ‘the best young guitarist in the country’, and he joined Sarah McLachlan’s band at 19. Luke Doucet has since gone on to release solo work, including the highly praised Blood’s Too Rich (Six Shooter, 2008), as well as albums with the rock band Veal.
Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers / Don’t Do Me Like That This song makes me feel like I’m five years old (which I was when it came out) but also reminds me of how great Tom Petty is as a writer. It sounds fresh to me. Not that radio would play it if it were a modern song (it’s too organic and human sounding), but I would listen to it.
After blowing people’s minds at the Capital Hill Block Party, then surprising everyone at Bumbershoot, then hopping down to Portland for Musicfest NW, Black Whales have made quite a name for themselves in the past year. One listen to “Young Blood” from their brand new EP, Origins, should clue you in on how far this young band is set to go. The EP was released last month on Mt. Fuji Records
Modest Mouse / Whale Song ‘I knew I was a scout, I should have found my way out’ are the only vocal lines in the song and they only take up a minute or so of time. The rest is a musical jam that builds and builds into an epic ending that’s littered with different layers of guitar hooks, noise and percussion. Live, it’s even better. And did I mention the bassline? It’s good, really good.
Recently signing to Kanine Records in the USA (Chairlift, Grizzly Bear), and Speak n Spell in Australia and New Zealand, Zaza is the musical union of Jennifer Fraser and Danny Taylor, both West Coast transplants who connected by fate in New York.ZAZA resides in Brooklyn. They are a musical marriage of Jennifer P. Fraser and Danny Taylor. They write for each other, they write about each other, they write to exalt and exact the other. And they hope it turns you on, too.
David Bowie / Heroes This song, any version really, is so stately and ceremonious that I have, on many occasions, pronounced that this song would either be my wedding song or my funeral song. Whatever came first.
Ethereal guitars and lyrical quirks will transport the listener to a dark, watery world of mystery and enchantment, and leave their heads swimming with unforgettable melodies. Sydney’s Deep Sea Arcade’s reverberated pop recalls The Beatles at their psychedelic peak, yet with a character and charm that is undeniably unique. Their single Don’t Be Sorry is the first release to come from the past six months of recording both at home and at BJB studios in Sydney with their co-producer Simon Berkfinger.
Pink Floyd / Paint Box Listen to it on a rainy day the morning after you got really drunk and did something stupid and embarrassing. I especially like when he sings: ‘Arriving late, there she waits looking very angry, as cross as she can be a-bee-a-bee-a-bee-a-bee’. The way I interpret these lyrics is that he’s pissed some girl off. She’s really hot and probably dressed in something from Carnaby Street. He wants to say he’s sorry but he’s taken too much acid and he gets distracted by a bee.
Founded by French musicians Marc Collin and Olivier Libaux, Nouvelle Vague have used a variety of female singers including Alexandra Pavlou, Mélanie Pain, Marina Celeste and Phoebe Killdeer for their unique acoustic covers of classic New Wave 80s tunes.
The Beach Boys / God Only Knows One of the most beautiful pop songs a human being can hear. The chord sequence was, is, and will always be, stunning.
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.
