Songs On Repeat: June 2023

Here's a round up of the songs old and new we've been enjoying at Click Roll Boom HQ this month.

Scott:

Biffy Clyro - Bubbles (2010)

Big Country - In a Big Country (1983)

The Darkness - Open Fire (2015)

Biffy Clyro - Biblical (2013)

The Killers - When We Were Young (2006)

Biffy Clyro - Break a Butterfly On a Wheel (2014)

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Scarlett:

Bring Me The Horizon - Medicine (2019)

I’ve been blasting Bring Me to get myself pumped for seeing them at Download Festival this year! The band are headlining the Friday night of the specially extended 4 day line-up to mark the festival's 20th anniversary. This song Is one of my favourites from their 2019 album ‘Amo’. I’m definitely hoping to hear a lot of songs from this album live. A somewhat unpopular opinion but I am loving the sound of BMTH’s newer stuff, which has been described as ‘alternative pop and rock’ , differing from their original deathcore sound that many remember them for. ‘Amo’ explores the use of synth and catchy repetitive melodies that will be guaranteed to get stuck in your head.

Turnover - New Scream (2015)

This song is from the band's album ‘Peripheral Vision’. This is one of my favourites all time albums, with 0 skips every time. The band are described as ‘Alternative / indie’ however have changed their sound overtime. New scream, and the rest of the album, contains beautifully haunting yet comforting melodies. I often associate this album with autumn time (because it’s normal to have summer, autumn and winter tunes, right??) but I think it is the perfect soundtrack to that bittersweet feeling of the end of summer and shorter days approaching. Having said that, I’ve been enjoying this song at the start of summer simply because I remembered how good it was and needed to hear it on repeat ASAP!

Surf Rock Is Dead - Anymore (2015)

I first heard this song on shuffle when I had moved into my first flat on my own. I was pretty nervous and felt unsettled and I remember having this on repeat 4 years ago as I was unpacking all my stuff into my new life. As I’ve been feeling pretty reflective recently, I thought about when I’d first moved in and how I’m still here 4 years later, and how you never really know what the future holds. In that moment I remembered this song, and it still brings comfort to me listening to it now. A mix of dreampop and shoegaze, this song is perfect for a chill, sunny day.

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Amy:

Sandi Thom - I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker (with Flowers In My Hair) (2006)

17 years on this song still gives me chills. The lyrics were scary back in 2006. Their impact is even greater now as everything moves at a lighting speed and people become more and more self-absorbed. Not that I want to age myself but I don’t think I could find a lyric I resonate more with than “I was born too late into a world that doesn’t care” - the more empathic I am the more cold and uncaring the society around me appears to become.

The Wedding Present - We Interrupt Our Programme (2022)

I’ve been affording someone who doesn’t deserve it far too much headspace recently and listening to The Wedding Present’s latest album “24 Songs” on the run up to shooting them this track really struck out at me. Particularly the line “And, yes, I guess you could say, at my age, I should’ve known better, but I threw the rule book away when you walked into my world because you took such an interest in me, that I couldn’t help but feel flattered” - oh, how easy it is to get fooled by flattery and what a wonderful thing hindsight is!

The Wonder Stuff - Unbearable (1988)

I forgot just how much I love The Wonder Stuff, jangly riff, indie pop heaven! I love the lyrics to ‘Unbearable’ as it perfectly mirrors how I feel about most people; “I didn't like you very much when I met you and now I like you even less”

Levellers - One Way (1991)

“There’s only one way of life and that’s your own” could words be any more true! To hell with what anyone says, you don’t have to follow society's rules, as long as you’re happy and you don’t hurt others who the hell you want to be!

Big Country - Peace In Our Time (1988)

Another stunning song from my newest obsession. The lyrics feature the idea of growing greed, human nature becoming more and more unsettled and a longing for peace and a more simple way of living. Letting the rain fall on mindless desires and enjoying the life we have rather than living in a sea of needless wants. The chorus is anthemic and super catchy too!

Manic Street Preachers ft Traci Lords - Little Baby Nothing (1992)

This is my favourite Manics song. The fact a track protesting about the exploitation and sexualisation of women is a duet with an ex porn star who entered the industry at the age of 16 has always blown my mind. The words, the riffs, the DIY feel…everything about ‘Little Baby Nothing’ is pure perfection.

The Shirehorses - Now I Know Where I’m Going Our Kid (1996)

This just makes me laugh, I love a good parody song (this one being a parody of The Seahorses ‘Love Is the Law’) and Mark and Lard are masters at it. Good harmless banter! It also mentions poo which always amusing my child-like sense of humour “Holly, Dick, Nu, and a shovel full of poo, I work on the land, dum dum dee dum”

Everybody Was In the French Resistance….Now! - He’s a “Rebel” (2010)

Another track that always raises a smile. Taken from the media slated album “Fixin’ the Charts” Everybody Was In the French Resistance….Now! is the side project of Art Brut’s Eddie Argos each track on the album answers another song, in this case it's The Crystals ‘He’s a Rebel’. The lyrics are great, featuring the idea of thinking a friend's new man is a bit of a douche while they’re totally smitten

(I appear to have been stuck in a bit of a time warp this month!)

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Kempsey:

Bad Omens - THE DEATH OF PEACE OF MIND (2022)
A close friend of mine was lucky enough to go on tour and work on sound engineering for a support band, GHØSTKID whilst on tour with headliner, Bad Omens. Their recommendation and behind the scenes videos blew me away and I am especially obsessed with this track. 

Sleep Token - Are You Really Okay? (2023)

I adore this song so much. It makes me feel at home and heard. Although Sleep Token’s recent album is getting mixed reviews, I’m hearing more bad than good, I think wholeheartedly this is the best album they have created and the entirety of the album has been my soundtrack to life since release. Worship. 

Kings Of Leon - Last Mile Home (2013)

There’s a driving rhythm to this song and it really is the kind of song to have playing in the car, on the train or to walk to. It really feels like it gets me home quicker after a long day. 

Inhaler - My Honest Face (2021)

I was introduced to this through a friend and it was very sparkly and romantic and I fell in love with this track at the first listen. It gives you that feeling of larger than life or gives you a cinematic romantic energy walking down the street. Beautiful. 

alt-J - Tessellate (2012)
This track, I honestly have no clue where it appeared from but I clicked like and it has a recurring position on many of my ‘chill’ and ‘indie’ playlists and it’s quite a chill bop filled with ambient tones.

The Chats - 6L GTR (2022)

This is just hella catchy and full of meme material and sits in my head rent free everyday. :)

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Tyler:

Some have called my music taste eclectic, or even worse- called me an "indie fan". Let me put those rumors to rest now, I'm a metalhead through and through. So for the darkest, grittiest month of them all, June, I'm bringing you the heaviest songs I've listened to all month. It's time for the JUNE OF DOOM!

Conway Twitty - I See The Want In Your Eyes (2001)

When it comes to the dark and macabre side of music, only Marilyn Manson can compete with Conway Twitty. The 50s rockerboy turned 70s-80s country icon is a guilty pleasure of mine, with no track exemplifying that better than "I See The Want In Your Eyes"

With its classic country ballad slide guitar and suave vocal delivery, if this is your type of song you'll know right away. Songwriter Wayne Carson dug deep for this classic country banger, and found some passionate yet oddly egotistical lyrics that Mr. Twitty delivers with overflowing passion and talent. Check it out.

Robbie Dupree - Steal Away (1980)

If that 80s pop country ballad was a little too heavy for you, I'd advise you to stay clear of Robbie Dupree's Yacht Rock classic 'Steal Away'. Right from the gentle fade-in, you can tell this track is going to take you on a metal-filled gentle cruise.
With a synth laden instrumental pushed forward by a punchy piano tone and a catchy chorus, you'll be nodding along (or as I call it, the 10% headbang) and purchasing ridiculously wide shouldered suits in seconds of hearing this track.

Freda Payne - Band of Gold (1970)

If you're looking for heavy distortion, guttural vocals and a chugging bassline - Freda Payne has exactly the 'none of that' you're looking for. 

Band of Gold is an early 70s R&B classic no one can resist belting along to. Freda's vocals have the exact intensity needed to carry the powerful story told by Band of Gold, that is only bolstered by the quick-marching, almost modern tempo of the drums. Combine that with a whole choir and orchestra worth of accompaniment and you've got the best ballad around in my opinion.

David Bowie, Mick Jagger - Dancing in The Street (1985)

Many consider Mick Jagger and The Rolling Stones to be a vital part of metal history. Combine his incredible talent with the avant-garde musical mastery of David Bowie and surely you get a metal progenitor for the history books right?

Nope. It's time for Dancing in The Street. From the beginning list of countries that transitions into an iconic trumpet intro, you just know you're in for an 80s dance track only excessive cocaine can give you the required energy to produce. The drums echo with the force of a thousand suns, and dancing in the street is belted by these two icons over, and over and over. 

This is neither Bowie or Jagger's finest work, but it sure is catchy and fun. If you're going to listen to this, I'd fully recommend watching the music video. Try and tell me something wasn't happening there.

The J. Geils Band - Centerfold (1988)

I won't even try and keep the bit up as I introduce this one, Centerfold is an 80s power pop classic that's about as far away from metal as the genre allows. Besides the distorted guitar, this song borrows far more from funk and soul sounds, with its electric organ and plucky bass, than it does the hair metal that would come to dominate the 80s. 

Listen, you know Centerfold, I know Centerfold, anyone who's listened to an 80s playlist knows Centerfold. I don't think I need to explain much further why this classic headbanger is on my list. Go forth and listen!

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Ed:

Celine Dion - It’s All Coming Back to Me Now (1996)

Harry Styles - As It Was (2022)

Bette Midler - Wind Beneath My Wings (1988)

Blur - The Narcissist (2023)

Christopher Cross - Arthurs Theme (1981)

Hue and Cry - Labour of Love (1987)