Songs on Repeat: May 2023
Here's a round up of the songs old and new we've been enjoying at Click Roll Boom HQ this month.
Scott:
Big Country - In A Big Country (1983), 1000 Stars - Live (2022), Inwards (1983)
Because of seeing them last month and shooting them this month.
Kirsten Adamson - Without Warning (2023)
Becuase my Dad has been pestering me to listem.
Sleep Token - Is It Really You? (2022)
Recommended to me by a friend so gave it a go.
Kempsey:
Blockade - Mess You Made (2023)
Diamond Country Dance Club - Pretty Drunk (2023)
Popscene - Toil and Trouble (2023)
VENUS GRRRLS - Sudocream Queen (2023)
Nirvana - Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge on Seattle (1993), Very Ape (1993)
La Dispute - Such Small Hands (2018)
Rebecca Lappa - Lolita (2023)
Ed:
Nine Inch Nails - Closer (1994)
The song that cemented Trent Reznor's status as an industrial rock icon. Limp Bizkit parodied it on the track Hot Dog.
Del Amitri - Roll To Me (1995)
Easy blend of Beatles-esque pop and country rock. I discovered this song on Now 31.
Carpenters - (They Long To Be) Close To You (1970)
One of the sweetest love songs ever written was written by one of the greatest ever songwriters, Burt Bacharach.
Echo & The Bunnymen - The Killing Moon (1984)
Gloomy post-punk and Doors-inspired psychedelia.
IDLES - Danny Nedelko (2018)
A love letter to immigration.
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - Souvenir (1981)
Classic piece of early '80s melancholy.
Tyler:
The Edge of Daybreak - Eyes of Love (2015)
Now here's a song as beautiful as it's story. Recorded entirely by prisoners serving time in Powhatan Correctional Center, Eyes of Love has an almost frantic passion for romance that can be felt throughout the track. With beautiful harmonies in the vocals and impressive production to say this track was recorded in a cell, if you're looking for a chillout track with a good story to tell look no further.
The Lemon Twigs - The Lesson (2018)
The vocals on this track may not be as refined as the prison folks's above, but this 2018 track from indie band The Lemon Twigs carries that same heart and emotions that'll make this a track you'll remember.
A small part of the album's tale, which is of course about a human/Todd Rundgren-raised chimp, this fun piano ballad is infectiously fun. Once the drums and orchestra kick in over the meaningful yet goofy lyrics, this really starts to feel like a Beatles track. If that's high praise to you, check this track out right away.
Steely Dan - Dirty Work (1972)
Steely Work by Dirty Dan sounds like a terrible welding business, but flip those words around and you're left with an absolutely cracking track.
Steely Dan are a rock band that should need no introduction, and if that introduction is not needed there's a good chance you know this song too. That chorus will forever live in my head, and I can think of no better song to belt in a bad mood. If you're not familiar with this classic, drop everything you're doing and take a listen
Donnie & Joe Emerson - Don't Fight (2014)
My one sentence impression of this track? The 1975 if they were gigging back in 1975, and a few years later dropped an 80s alt classic. With a consistent rumbling tempo and simple lyrics, this may not be as poetic as the tracks above, but that can be forgiven as this is actually a reissued demo from the D&J duo. If you're looking for a lesser-known 80s jam that's perfect for nodding along to in the car, here you go!
Alessi Brothers - Seabird (1998)
Finishing up with another classic this month, do I even need to write another word about this Alessi Brothers classic? With simple Wurlitzer and those iconic vocals, the Alessi brothers imbue these classic lyrics with the emotion needed to make a strongman cry. Speaking off, the tears are already rolling here over the plight of the Seabird, so I'll leave you with an insistence that you listen to this track after the others. It makes a great endcap for this ballad-y journey across my May Five!
Amy:
Big Country - Ships (1993) & Look Away (1986)
I've had my eyes opened to Big Country this month and realised they're so much more than a band who sing about love a bit too much. ‘Ships’ is a beautiful soundscape of pain and questioning, the notion that when you're struggling the people who claim to care are nowhere to be seen. ‘Look Away’ while instantly catchy, the kind of song you hear once and you’re humming it for days, provides more thought provoking lyrics and darkened themes.
Barstool Preachers - Call Me On the Way Home (2023)
A heartfelt lyric reassuring however alone you may feel sometimes there's always a point to carrying on, people care more than you think they do. The idea is okay to talk about our problems because in the crazy modern world no one can do it on their own.
Kirsten Adamson - They Deserve Better (2023)
Absolutely stunning, Kirsten's vocals are faultless. The lyrics cut deep with the idea of living in the past rather than getting caught up in the rat race, social status driven monotony of the modern day.
The Wonder Years - New Years Eve With Carl Weathers (2010)
I love how this track blasts in at full pace with a burst of perfect pop punk. I can particularly relate to the line "when you think that you've just got the best of me, man we don't go down that easy" a reminder to never let anyone dilute you or think they have power over you.
Shit Present - Voice in My Head (2023)
I've featured ‘Voice in My Head’ on a previous On Repeat, it's such an amazing track. One of the best songs about unravelling mental health I've heard. A journey though how the mind can one minute be your best friend and build you up but the next totally destroy you.
Manic Street Preachers - First Republic (1996) & Repeat (UK) (1992)
Of course in celebration of the Coronation I've been listening to my two favourite anti-Monarchy tunes. The Royal Family has drained the country, brought racism and destroyed our industries yet we celebrate them like they're some higher force.
