WARMER MIXTAPES #99 | by Johan Signert of Swedish For Beginners
1. The Beach Boys | The Lonely Sea
Many of the best Beach Boys-songs are lurking in the dark, either buried between fun-in-the-Sun singles, or - later in their career - on largely ignored albums. This beautiful ballad from the 1963 album Surfin' USA, is just such a track. And to think that Brian Wilson was only 21 at the time of its release.
2. Mr.Bungle | Ars Moriendi
Dismissed by most as a quirky side-project by vocalist Mike Patton, nothing could be farther from the truth. They released three albums over a period of nearly a decade, each taking a huge and unexpected leap forward. Taken from their 1999 album California, Ars Moriendi blends accordion, metal guitars and electronics into a strange and beautiful beast.
3. Polysics | Rocket
Japanese pop and rock bands seem to have a magical ability to reflect western music in a warped mirror. Bands like Boredoms, Melt-Banana, and Polysics - although quite different in style - all seem to chew up the best of European and American music, only to spit out something even better. Like this track.
4. The Flaming Lips | Do You Realize??
To me, this song is about wonder and amazement with the world as it is, without invoking the supernatural. If only more people would take that advice. A beautiful tune from a truly unique band.
5. Radiohead | Jigsaw Falling Into Place
Even though I still hold The Bends as their finest hour. I'm over and over again amazed with how Radiohead manage to deliver superb material while always moving their sound forward.
6. Polly Scattergood | Other Too Endless
Her debut album may be somewhat uneven, but this song really touched me when I first heard it, and it has grown on me since. Other highlights include Nitrogen Pink and Please Don't Touch. Definitely an artist I will keep an eye out for.
7. Morrissey | Now My Heart Is Full
The influence of Morrissey is simply inescapable for anyone writing pop songs post-Smiths. There are so many songs to choose from, I picked this one simply because I personally have a strong emotional attachment to it.
8. Belle And Sebastian | Lord Anthony
As close to the perfect pop melody as you can get, paired with amazing lyrics that blend despair and hope. B&S are always inspiring to me, and this is one of their very finest moments.
9. Håkan Hellström | Ramlar
Håkan Hellström shaped Swedish pop music of the first decade of the 21st century. His 2000 debut album may be the best Swedish debut ever, and the track Ramlar may be the most explosive Swedish pop song ever.
10. Napalm Death | The Kill
This is the end of the line. This is how far you can push rock music. Napalm Death, on their 1986 debut Scum, compressed the songs to maximum density. The two-second(!) You Suffer takes the music to it's logical conclusion.
