Ten songs to listen to while the world collapses around you
There's a recession going on, petrol prices are up the yin-yang, houses are through the roof. Hell, some guy just held up a brothel in Wellington at gunpoint. Let's face it, this is the world Rage Against The Machine warned you about. Those guys must be so smug right now.
Here's ten tunes guaranteed to give you the perfect 3mins 30 of faux-escapism.
- The Album Leaf - Over The Pond
From the album In A Safe Place, in which Jimmy LaVelle escapes to Iceland, hooks up with Sigur Ros and makes the equivalent of an ethereal nuclear bunker. Complete with Sigur Ros frontman Jonsi's trademark hopelandic falsetto, xylophone and creaky piano.
Beware though - some warped television executive is bound to overlay this track on top of a sinister scene of Lost or similarly apocalyptic show and do that whole ‘sweet music juxtaposed with horrible visual of dead body or death' thing, so hold on to it while its pure.
- Weezer - Island In The Sun
If you can stay miserable until the end of this track you're beyond help. If it really is proving difficult, we recommend watching the music video - they play with baby monkeys!
- Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Pin
Any song with a chorus that goes:
bam, bam, bam, bam, bam, bam, bam, bam, bam
duhduh, duhduh, duhduh, duhduh
is bound to get you on the good foot.
- Wilco - Either Way
Maybe the sun will shine today
The clouds will blow away
Maybe I won't feel so afraid
I will try to understand
Everything has it's plan
Either way
That's the spirit Tweedy. Sometimes it's our pop heroes that make the best motivational speakers. I call them ‘pep' musicians.
- Ron Sexsmith - Gold In Them Hills
...even though the bills are piling,
Maybe lady luck came smiling...
The proper album version, not the sappy remix with Chris Martin. Too much treacle there. Try Ron Sexsmith in a room with a piano and succulent string section. He sounds like a kind uncle - the kind that makes you sad for a little bit, but then pats you on the back, winks and takes you out for an ice cream.
- James Brown - It's Too Funky In Here
YOU'RE DAMN RIGHT IT IS!
The Godfather suffocates in a blanket of his own soul. Open some windows ladies, it's too funky in here. The best thing about James Brown is that you don't just get an invite to the party, you get a guided tour. Uh. Here come the bridge.
- Family Force Five - Dance Or Die
Family Force Five are a great alternative for all those white folk who don't have the confidence to pull out the Motown in case they get sniggers from the car next to them at the lights. These Atlanta boys are the darlings of the Vans Warped scene for their fevered breeding of Prince, Nu-Metal and Van Halen's synths. Listen to ‘em. It's like they threw MJ in a cage with David Lee Roth and poked them with Gene Simmons' tongue.
- Bruce Springsteen - Born In The U.S.A
This one is especially for our American counterparts feeling the credit crunch. There's something about the Boss and his unrelenting gravel that makes you feel like everything's gonna be ok ‘cos you were born in the U.S.A.
Comments about killing the yellow man in a foreign land aside of course...
- M.I.A - Paper Planes
You'd be surprised how much this track cheers you up if you do the actions.
All I wanna do is pow pow pow pow...
- Amy Winehouse - Monkey Man
It's not because she sounds like a 60-year old 200-pound Rastafarian.
It's not even the novelty of Amy Winehouse doing ska.
It's not because it's a song about a monkey.
It's because it reminds us that no matter how bad things get, they could always be worse. You could be Amy Winehouse.
