So Here We Are!

Well here it is. The first post for Who Needs Radio from yours truly. I always talked about doing something like this and now I have a chance to thanks to Lady Byrd. So if you hate everything I post feel free to direct your angst over to her! Don't shoot the messenger.

Anyway, what I hope to do w/my posts, as my name might suggest, is to bring a bit of the UK to you. I hope to post a bit of new stuff, a bit of old stuff, and bit of stuff that's just got soul...literally. I've been buying British pop for roughly 15 years and have lived through the shoegazing movement, the baggy movement, romo(!!!!) and of course the Britpop craze. In fact, at the height of the Britpop craze I bought just about everything that came out, much to my creditors delight. Today, thanks to an even better credit score, I'm still doing buying more than I should while trying to spark a Menswear revival!

Anyway, I hope you enjoy what I post. Let me know what you think and let me know what I should check out.

Here we go....

Newish stuff that I fancy....

The Alps - World at War:
Despite living several hundred miles from the nearest Alp, this band is on to something on the up and up. "World at War" is a bit rough around the edges but its jerkyness and "Dieaaaaa Oh" chorus are simply addictive! This is the next great multiple "Oh Oh" song to be a hit.

Bromheads Jacket - What Ifs and Maybes:
Guess what? This song has a crazy "oooh oooh" chorus as well! Maybe that should be the theme here? Anyway, it's nice to see that Art Brut has ALREADY influenced a whole wave bands. "What Ifs," is short, spiky and hilarious. It's almost like someone put a gun to Mike Skinner's head, made him take speed and front Art Brut.

Every Move A Picture - 12am:
This song has no "oooh oooh," choruses! It does however, have a groove that will become annoyingly addictive. A little bit synthy, a little bit guitary, a little bit dark and an altogether catchy pop song. You'll definitely remember 12am after listening to this song about twice. A nice alarm clock song for all you DJ's.

Little Man Tate - Sexy In Latin:
No it's not Jodie Fosters new band! It is however a spiky and jumpy pop tune in the finest sense of the word. It's got a Libertines vibe to it with the best bits of 1995 mixed in. It's almost as if the ghosts of Camden Town past are plotting a comeback...that my friends is NOT a bad thing.

From the Vaults...

Divine Comedy - Gin Soaked Boy:
You have to love Neil Hannon. You just do. He's a geek and a cad but he's got a way with words like Jarvis does. His songs make girls swoon and guys jealous. He's in love with everything that Burt Bacharach and Scott Walker stand for. He's loves theatrics and he loves pop. This is easily one of his best songs and if the Jeff Goldblum reference doesn't get you then you have no sense of humour at all.

Well that's it! I lost my whoneedsradio virginity and damn it feels good. Until next time, remember...Good music will prevail!

Paul (the non-reluctant Anglophile)

Grassy Ass

I just wanted to take a moment and say thanks to Chris of gorilla vs. bear for the mention yesterday. Because of his post and the kind people on my myspace friends list, we got a total of 496 hits yesterday!

Keep checking this weekend for more good music, as Paul has promised me a great post by tonight. I also plan on forcing myself to sit down for an hour to record a mix for you folks sometime this weekend. Thanks again for all your support.

Speaking of support, my sweet friend Paulie is spinning with Gerald of Crashin'In at the SKInNY Lounge in LES tonight, 10PM-4AM. Try and make it by if you can. And when you see Paulie, ask him if he's that dude from The Streets.

- LB

Nostalgia

I've been feeling a bit nostalgic for the 60s and 70s lately, pulling out the Nuggets boxset and watching classic movies. Don't know why, really.

Well, just take a listen to these as they're some of my favorites.

Today's theme: Before My Time

Brothers Johnson - Strawberry Letter 23
Marvin Gaye - Got To Give It Up
Harry Nilsson - Jump Into The Fire
The Zombies - Care Of Cell 44
Lou Reed - Rock & Roll
The Who - Happy Jack
The Remains - Why Do I Cry
Chamber Brothers - Time Has Come Today
Them - It's All Over Now Baby Blue
Serge Gainsbourg & Brigitte Bardot - Je t'aime... moi non plus
Audrey Hepburn - Moon River

- LB

Repeat

I'm just a little tired from the tylenol pms and strenuous work day I've had, so I'm going to lazy up this first offering by only doing half the homework. The artist name will take you to their site, the song title to your free mp3, and I've also included most of their myspace links if you'd like to hear more of them.

Today's theme: Lady's iPod > Repeat > All

Velella Velella - Hunter:
"VV forge danceable rock filigreed with aquamarine vibes and Rhodes, sunburst guitars, sinuous bass lines, and myriad odd textures - like if Stereolab lost their Continental aloofness for a change." - The Stranger
Myspace Velella Velella

Panico - Guerra Nuclear:
If you haven't heard this band, chances are you haven't hung around me yet. Or heard me DJ. Or even talked to me. Yeah, I guess you could say I love them. Chile's Panico are a brand of dance-punk all their own, even in a genre so widely exploited. While this track is a little bland compared to their others, it's not one to throw aside.
Myspace Panico

Los Super Elegantes - Dance (ESG Cover):
For those of you who haven't heard LSE yet, this cover will be like the perfect kiss on a first date. A sultry introduction to your great relationship. Who could go wrong covering ESG? Well... don't answer that question seriously. But here, Los Super Elegantes manages to actually improve the track. At least in my opinion. If you ever get a chance to see this band perform live, don't miss it. I almost skipped out on seeing them recently, but I'm really glad I didn't.
Myspace Los Super Elegantes

Dead Disco - The Treatment (Metronomy Remix):
I pretty much fall for any remix that Metronomy does. He has an ear that I'd like to steal. While the original of this track is pretty good on it's own (you can hear it on their myspace profile), the remix gives it depth that the original lacks.
Myspace Dead Disco
Myspace Metronomy

Hot Chip - Just Like We (Breakdown) (DFA Remix):
The first listen I gave this remix, I was "meh" about it. Then I listened again. And again. And again. Even with it's repetitive structure, mild build-up and stretched ending, you'll find yourself listening over and over and over again.
Myspace Hot Chip

Sia - Breathe Me (Ulrich Schnauss Remix):
Before I started this site, I had posted up the Four Tet remix of the original Sia track on another site. I thought that was a good remix, then Ulrich comes in and does something even more beautiful with it. Sia should just ditch her solo act and team up with Ulrich indefinitely. They way his music works with her voice is phenomenal.
Myspace Sia
Myspace Ulrich Schnauss

Tunng - The Pioneers (Bloc Party Cover):
Forget for a minute that it's a Bloc Party cover. Don't even let that get in the back of your head before you hear it. Tunng takes the song and actually makes it listenable by adding their unique touch - acoustic beauty layered over electronic beats.

Sufjan Stevens - She Is:
I could say a million great things about Sufjan, but I still wouldn't be able to express how much I love his music. Now he's gone one step further by doing this cover for the upcoming "Dream Brother: The Songs of Tim & Jeff Buckley" tribute album. If you're a fan and in the NYC area like me, you may want to know that Sufjan and others are doing a Tibet House benefit concert, March 1st at Carnegie Hall.
Myspace Sufjan Stevens

- LB

Start!

Time to get this thing scrolling. Got music you want to submit or suggest? Send it to us.

MP3 post coming shortly, so hold tight. We're still cleaning up the construction site.

...and coming down from the 12 cups of coffee we had to drink to stay awake.

- LB