blues
A Bit Less Cynical at Christmas
The follow-up/companion to 'Cynical at Christmas'. As promised, this is a bit less cynical, but still 'alternative' and avoiding most cliches. Chuck Berry is allowed, because, alongside with Half Man Half Biscuit, he has written and performed the OTHER TWO 'Greatest Christmas Songs Ever' (namely Merry Christmas Baby and Run Rudolph Run).
This is, musically at least, a little more 'feel good' than the 'Cynical' mix, and aiming for a general positivity without resorting to cheap sentiment.
Drinking The Blues
An upbeat blues flavoured compilation of drinking songs, to conjure up a good, old-time Friday night of drinking and getting drunk in a pub, bar or party... No depressing songs included!
Ghost Rider
This mix was made for a friend, and is centered around the Young Gods' cover of 'Ghost Rider'.
The idea was to evoke a particular part of the atmosphere of the song, and explore it as fully as possible.
It's intended to be a kind of gritty road trip through the dirty back roads of America - similar to Natural Born Killers if it was directed by Jim Jarmusch. Or Wim Wenders. Or something.
You can make up your own story to fit the lyrics and music, but I see it as a teenager running away from home ("America, America is killing it's youth"), who, after visiting some dark places (of the soul and the landscape), finally finds his home at the carnival.
I've only got an old vinyl rip of Swans' Love Will Tear Us Apart - sorry for the crackles. There's a similar version by Honeyroot at the end of the excellent UK film 'Red Road'.