Another Podshuffle

I'm avoiding homework again, obviously. By the way, troubled diva has posted a review of Andy Williams' recent show at Nottingham Royal Concert Hall. This is his last England tour, which is sad. I'm really glad we saw him when we did. Braving Branson for his show was the right thing to do.

Anyway, onto the shuffle.

1. "Looking Back On Vanity" by Remy Shand

Remy Shand is a Canadian soul singer who got a lot of press for his album The Way I Feel. It's very mellow. While it's a good album to chill out to, it can also be a bit samey. Moreover, "Looking Back On Vanity" goes on a bit long: it's 5:00, but it really feels over around 4:10. That's a minor quibble, though. This is a smooth, sexy song.

2. "Goodnight Goodnight" by Hot Hot Heat

Quick little blast of vaguely retro rock. Steve Bays' voice can be a bit shrill on the chorus, but it's a cool song.

3. "Raindrops" by Cedric

This is a song from one of the compilation albums that we picked up when we went to Austria a few years ago. It's a generic slow jam R&B number that probably would have blended better with Remy Shand than Hot Hot Heat. Strange lyric watch: "If the monkey is on your back/Then show him who is king."

4. "Seconds Protest" by Downy Mildew

This is one of those songs that doesn't really do much for me, yet I have no problem listening to it when it comes up. It's decent, not great, and it wouldn't be a song that I would think of if someone brought up Downy Mildew in conversation.

5. "Tubthumping" by Chumbawamba

Jen and I sang this at the karaoke bar on our honeymoon cruise. Considering that everyone else on the cruise were over the age of 50 and singing either Sinatra or Motown, this felt really rebellious. Jen made sure to sing out loud on the line "pissing the night away."

6. "Oh My God" by Kaiser Chiefs

"Come back stronger than a powered-up Pac-Man." Damn right.

7. "Bullets" by Editors

We have tickets to see them again. This will be the fourth time. They're so good live. This track captures Editors really well. Straight-forward rock song with great hooks and so-so lyrics. But it doesn't matter that they're so-so, because Tom Smith sings them with such conviction.

8. "Split Needles" by The Shins

They have not changed my life. In fact, I'm not all that fond of the Shins. But this is a cool song. It's peppy and dour at the same time. Always a fun combo.

9. "Everything Is Average Nowadays" by Kaiser Chiefs

Including this song. Sounded great live, though.

10. "Immature" by Bjork

Homogenic is my favorite Bjork album. I remember how people complained that it was inaccessible when it came out. Then she released all her subsequent albums, and Homogenic became positively sell-out pop. This is where she gets it all right, I think.