All Saints

"Well... ya wanna catch a saint, then bait yer hook, let's take a walk..." Presenting a holy six pack for all you hip priests out there. Original artwork by the amazing Tinca.

The Breeders - Saints MP3

Me & Stupid - Dear Saint Rita Of Impossible Dreams MP3

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Saint Huck MP3

Lee 'Scratch' Perry - By Saint Peter MP3

The Grateful Dead - Saint Stephen MP3

Albert Ayler - Saints MP3

All The Way Home

Remember I posted that fine cover version of Drivin´ On 9 by the Breeders a while back in Wild Weekend Vol. 7? Well, I finally managed to track down the original. Listening to Ed´s Redeeming Qualities and their lofi rendition of Drivin´ On 9, it´s easy to see why the Deal sisters were charmed enough to try their luck with it. After a somewhat shaky start Ed & co. audibly gain confidence, and the forceful fiddle takes it all the way home.

"You´ll sure look pretty, in Carson City, walking down the aisle..

Will you wear white? I sure hope not, but you might, just to spite..."

Ed´s Redeeming Qualities was a late eighties cult alt-folk formation from Ohio, whose career was cut short by the untimely death of their main songwriter Dom Leone. Although the band carried on without him for a while, things would never be the same. For more vintage Ed, check out the Music-Snob.

Ed´s Redeeming Qualities - Drivin´ On 9 MP3

Wild Weekend Vol. 7

Wild Weekend is here again, featuring the iPod as the rebellious jukebox of modern times. The shuffle mode decides which sixpack of songs you´re gonna get. Variety´s the name of the game. Check it out, y´all.

First we go back to 1958, with a rockabilly scorcher by Sammy Gowans. Sammy finds himself rockin´ all alone, "wigglin´ like a wigglin´ dove", until he finds somebody new... Some really wild guitar work here. Want more? Get Cat Talk, a dynamite compilation of obscure sides from the great Imperial label. Fast forward now to 1991, and the triphop gospel according to Massive Attack. One Love stems from the still stunning Blue Lines album and features Jamaican nightingale Horace Andy on vocals. A classic.

Sammy Gowans - Rockin´ By Myself MP3

Massive Attack - One Love MP3

"That token draw on your cigarette, that well-known face in the fire..." That´s Peter Hammill, one of the few prog rockers I can stand. For a good overview of his post Van Der Graaf Generator work, the Love Songs compilation is a wonderful place to start. Next up: Monk. Need I say more? There were many amazing piano players in jazz, but no one is as special in my book as the man called Thelonious. Here he´s doing his thing alone in San Francisco. Do I hear jaws drop? Good.

Peter Hammill - Ophelia MP3

Thelonious Monk - Blue Monk MP3

The Deal sisters travel a country road in this melancholy Breeders gem from Last Splash. Carrie Bradley shines on fiddle. Drivin´ On 9 is a cover of ultra-obscure Youngstown, Ohio band Ed's Redeeming Qualities. I´ve never heard the original, so if anyone can help out I´d be much obliged. And as a grand finale, here´s the black & white pride of Coventry. I read somewhere that the Specials are touring again at the moment, but I´m glad I caught the 2 Tone experience back when Jerry Dammers & co. were still in their prime. Those where the days, rude boys and girls.

The Breeders - Drivin´ On 9 MP3

The Specials - Blank Expression MP3