Hello world.
I think it’s safe to say things are finally back to normal wrt the blog. I will be quoting less, analyzing more.
Take a look at the songs I have for you this week-
I decided to kick this one off with something I think is perfect for kicking things off to an energetic start. I have for you the late 90s band Morcheeba with Ten Men.
Everyone I’ve had listen to this band has loved it! I won’t take the credit for discovering the band myself, it was my cousin’s recommendation while sharing his music with us. Thank you cousin of mine who I will not name on the blog.
Morcheeba is a mixture of sounds. While you see very evident traces of cultural and tradition instruments, you find that they are blended so very skillfully into more electro and trip-hop genres. The band boasts of a mix of influences from rock, alternative, trip hop, folk-rock, adult contemporary and downtempo. No wonder they appeal to such a wide audience.
Apart from every single thing on the track, I want you to pay more attention to Skye Edwards’ very relaxed yet powerful voice. The woman has incredible vocal control!
I’ll admit I haven’t heard a lot of tracks by the band 3 Doors Down (yes of course I’ve heard Here Without You and Kryptonite. To the point of being bored of them). But then I heard Loser.
There are several reasons this track appeals. One, it’s got purpose. The song was written by lead singer Brad Arnold about a childhood friend who got addicted to cocaine. Two, despite it being another 3-chord song, I like the melody line- it’s not just catchy but quite unique to the song. Three, the bridge is impressive because it contrasts from the main song. Makes the song more interesting if you ask me.
Here’s an amusing Brad Arnold songfact I just found:
My nephew, when he was about 3 or 4, and we were on tour for the Better Life record, his words to this song were, ‘you’re pushing me off of lobster legs.’ And for the next 6 months, every time I played that song, I was standing there trying not to sing, ‘You’re pushing me off the lobster legs.’
And now because of that, it sounds just like “lobster legs” to me!
I’d heard this track several years back on WorldSpace satellite radio, and then about two months back it played on one of the Lounge music stations I 
was tuned in to online. Feels really good to rediscover songs. Surprises me that we forget good music in the first place. Anyway, the track is Like A Star by Corinne Bailey Rae.
If you lay back at night, close your eyes, and drown out all the sounds around you to just Corinne Baliey Rae crooning Like A Star- you’ll be left with a feeling of pleasant emptiness. Classified as a soul, jazz, downtempo song, I think it does perfect justice to the genres.
The track is from Bailey Rae’s self-titled studio album from 2006 which debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart and was certified triple platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).
Here’s a song suggested by a friend.
The song When The Levee Breaks is probably one of every Classic Rock or Led Zeppelin fan’s favourites. There’s a very fulfilling feeling when you listen to this one.
Here’s something I just found out about the song though. It was originally a blues song written and recorded by husband and wife Kansas Joe McCoy and Memphis Minnie in 1929 is in reaction to the upheaval caused by the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927. It was re-worked by Led Zeppelin as the last song on their fourth album, released in 1971. Many other artists have also recorded versions of the song or played it live.
I have honestly only heard Led Zeppelin’s version of this song and I can’t think of any other version being better than this. Optimistically, I hope I’m wrong.
This next track has been on my mind for a while but I never got the chance to share it. Here it is now- Garbage with Stupid Girl.
In case you didn’t already know this (because I just found out), the band consists of Scottish lead vocalist Shirley Manson and American musicians Duke Erikson (bass, guitar, keyboards, percussion), Steve Marker (guitar, keyboards), and Butch Vig (drums, percussion).
All of Garbage’s music is very appealing to listen to. Shirley Manson has a rather memorable voice- in the sense it stays in your head. “Stupid Girl” became their biggest hit in United States and the United Kingdom. The band’s music covers genres like alternative rock, electronic rock, industrial rock, trip hop and grunge.
Now for some light pleasing jazz. It’s George Benson with Carnival Joys.
I heard this track on one of the several Lounge stations I’ve got bookmarked on my browser and I liked it instantly.
George Benson is a ten-time Grammy Award-winning American musician and singer-songwriter. He began his professional career at twenty-one, as a jazz guitarist. A former child prodigy, he first came to prominence in the 1960s, playing soul jazz. He then launched a successful solo career, alternating between jazz, pop, R&B singing, and scat singing.
The track Carnival Joys appears as track #2 on Benson’s 1968 Jazz album ‘Goodies’
I always think what track you start and end a playlist with determine how you perceive the rest of the playlist. And having said that, I like beginning 
with pumped-up energetic tracks that really boost you up. The same goes for the end tracks.
To close playlist #24, I have Bob Marley for you with Jammin.
I can never get enough of this track. In the car, at home, while involved in cleaning, while studying, or whatever the hell I’m doing- Jammin is one of those songs that I would like to listen to. Come to think of it, there are over four Bob Marley songs that serve as all purpose songs in my life. That’s pretty neat cuz I love Marley’s music. Reggae in fact is a really unique genre of music. There’s something about it that boosts me up.
Call me ignorant, but there was only one picture I’d seen of Bob Marley until yesterday, and that was the popular one with the edits. My research yesterday made me realize Bob Marley was an insanely good looking man.!
I enjoyed making, researching and writing this playlist. It’s been a while since I put in this much time into it. Keep the suggestions and feedback coming, I’d love to hear what you have to say.
Until next week.
Happy Listening!
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