TRACKS OF THE WEEK - 07/07/2013 - Robin Thicke, NIN, Pet Shop Boys, Arctic Monkeys, Beck


Five tracks that were like a 5 set thriller on centre court for us this week......



Old Pa's Corner:-
Pet Shop Boys - 'The Last to Die' (2013)


Here is a track from the  Pet Shop Boys new album  Electric (2013) I just had to choose this cover of a classic Springsteen song from his album Magic (2007). I have always been a fan of TPB ever since West End Girls.

Behaviour (1990) was one of my albums of that year.  I do believe their best has come and gone, but I still have a soft spot for them. It is probably a bit unfair also playing the Bruce version, as it is far superior, but what the heck, some out there may not have heard it. Its win win!!


London Scouser:-
Arctic Monkeys - 'Do I Wanna Know' (2013)


What can I say, Alex Turner and the barrel are back with another great song. Instantly recognisable it has the usual clever lyrics that I have enjoyed since they first broke onto the scene a few years back. I've seen it described as a great James Bond style song and I see what they mean. The video is simple but effective and probably cost a bundle to make. They are touring the UK later this year and having seen them at the Olympic Opening Ceremony last year its a gig I know I would love.

Sfw:-
Beck - 'I Won't Be Long' (2013)


If you are lucky to attend this weekend's gig London gig at Union Chapel, you may have a better idea than I of what Beck's recently promised acoustic album is like.  Instead he's teasing us like a tasselled temptress with this vinyl only, single release to follow up 'Defriended' (a previous Shell Hunter TOTW). I'm intrigued as I eagerly await anything by the musical genius, which is Beck Hanson.

Flycasual:-
NIN - 'Come Back Haunted' (2013)



Industrial heavyweights, Nine Inch Nails are back but it sounds like whatever excursion they've come back from, they've had a bad time of it. It's just as well really and I mean that in the nicest possible way of course, as 'Come Back Haunted' is as good as any of the dark, nightmarish soundscapes that Trent Reznor has created and to which I enjoy wallowing too. To top it all off, Mr Eraserhead himself, David Lynch, directs the suitably unsettling video but I chose the audio clip above as it's far more entertaining, if you wish to make your eyes bleed click here to see it. This is an aural advance party, as the NIN's 9th album, Hesitation Marks, drops September 3rd.

Shell Hunter:-
Robin Thicke - 'Blurred Lines ft. T.I, Pharell' (2013)


Its shaping up to be a great summer for dance songs! This cheeky little number has a winning formula once again throwing Pharell into the mix. I love the little Michael Jackson style "woo" running all the way through. Robin Thicke has been on the scene for some time, getting recognition for producing and writing for well known R'N'B artists including Cristina Aguilera. This new album also called Blurred Lines will be his 6th solo album and he has been the first white male artist to top the R'N'B Billboard charts since George Michael. Not bad at all!

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Comments

The Swede said…
Simmer down and pucker up. It's a close call with Beck, but for me the tune of the week belongs to the Arctic Monkeys. They just seem to be getting better and better.
flycasual said…
Old Pa, I couldn't play the Pet Shop Boys track but I'll agree with you that their best stuff is in the past. Good memories of the Behaviour album. Their 2009 song 'Love Etc' was pretty good but I didn't realise they've had another two albums since.

LS, an excellent song and video probably my pick of the bunch. James Bondish I suppose and a bit saucy too. They've become the British QOTSA.

Sfw, this so much better than the last offering, really good.

SH, my wife was especially pleased that she introduced me to this song last month as despite it being number one and with some 60 million YouTube hits, I had never heard of it. It's a great track though, love the Marvin Gaye sample.
flycasual said…
He's getting some work, Pharrell....the two biggest hits of the summer.
Old Pa's Corner said…
LS - this is good, I thought they had peaked but this dissolves that theory...could be a great Bond song.
FW - prefer this to the previous one...almost Wilco like from Foxtrot album.
FC - nice to have them back this good too, great tracks this week
SH - did not think I would like it, but I did, first time I actually DL all 4...shame about the PSB.