1000000 songs from SPOTIFY about...

[Lateralthinking1]

GT - My numbering was all at sixes and sevens. Still, you got there. For some reason, my Spot no longer indicates to me whether there are subscribers to lists. If you have any problems with it, do shout. The Festive Forever, which was created using this year's Manual of Quality Assessment, could do with some more in-the-round editing. There is, though, always the skip button for those who, say, agree that the NME isn't what it used to be. Ditto for people who feel that jazz is not their cup of tea.

I thought the indie was a bit too gothic this year. Hip-hop, understandably, seemed tired. There is so much "innovative" electronica that it almost defies its own description but there are nuggets to be found among the sameness. By contrast, experimental jazz really seems to be on the up. The old soul revival continues to dig in. Excellent. The reggae is very light but it is being done so well that it often comes with sunshine. World music did enough but there didn't seem to be many new releases. Folk on these shores had a fairly good year, maintaining the trend of the last decade. Country is better appreciated in the mainstream but the real excitement is in the rootsier Americana. Some good ouputs from old troupers. A few distinctive youngsters. A nice selection of the oddball. And then that tricky matter of songcraft. It can at least now be be found. Not long ago it was looking like a lost art. - Lat.

Note - I've made a few changes to the list - 29.12.11 - so that the final one - at post 770 and on Spotty - includes some classical releases, a little more electronica, the Campbells and one or two interesting oddities. This 250 is my idea of Late Junction if it slipped in to 6music for the day. I guess that is where I am "ish" and it's my best shot at "2011 - a goodish year for music".

[Globaltruth]

The Xmas playlist is now closed for another year - we ended up with 16 subscribers.

It's over a year since we had a go at D.I.D. - so, overdue for another - post your current 8 favourites here

and, as you can see, I'm torn between those Natacha Atlas covers - I'll be guided by someone's impeccable taste....

[geofflikesmusic]

is there a collaborative playlist I could contribute to?

[johncorrigan]

is there a collaborative playlist I could contribute to?

Follow this link Geoff - http://open.spotify.com/user/trautig...1sWazGim5naUli

Hit 'subscribe' at the top of the page - the playlist will then appear on your playlists as active - then drag appropriate tracks on to the playlist.

[geofflikesmusic]

Follow this link Geoff - http://open.spotify.com/user/trautig...1sWazGim5naUli

Hit 'subscribe' at the top of the page - the playlist will then appear on your playlists as active - then drag appropriate tracks on to the playlist.

thanks John, what are the rules of a playlist, I'm guessing it's just releases for 2011 right?

Not sure how much I can contribute, I mostly listen to 'old' music ;)

[Lateralthinking1]

Geoff - I don't think John is online. I see one of his is from 2009 so I reckon that it is anything you are enjoying currently. Hope this helps. Thank you for the kind comments by the way. I respect specialists. You have a clear vision there with your focus on traditional music. It is interesting and educational. By nature, I generalize or flit about, depending on who has the perspective. And actually it was the same in employment where I was required to move from one area to another every two or three years. It probably explains why I tend not to travel physically very far from my chair. - Lat.

[Globaltruth]

thanks John, what are the rules of a playlist, I'm guessing it's just releases for 2011 right?

Not sure how much I can contribute, I mostly listen to 'old' music ;)

Geoff - rules are really as minimal as possible, so 'old' music (a word almost as difficult to quantify as 'world') is more than welcome.
The Desert island discs list is simply the 8 tracks you would take with you
Today.

By the way any Spotify person can have 1 collaborative playlist going at any 1 point; so if you have an idea for one feel free to create.

The basic idea is that we jointly discover great music. What could be better?

[johncorrigan]

Geoff - I don't think John is online. I see one of his is from 2009 so I reckon that it is anything you are enjoying currently. Hope this helps. Thank you for the kind comments by the way. I respect specialists. You have a clear vision there with your focus on traditional music. It is interesting and educational. By nature, I generalize or flit about, depending on who has the perspective. And actually it was the same in employment where I was required to move from one area to another every two or three years. It probably explains why I tend not to travel physically very far from my chair. - Lat.

I was kind of doing it as songs that I had heard for the first time this year and which I had kept listening to - I couldn't stop playing that James Yorkston version of Matty Groves for ages after I got it out of the library - actually the whole record is great, and having only heard of Hedy West recently I was totally taken by her version too. I've come to the considered conclusion that it's a blinkin' great song - hold the front page!

[Globaltruth]

DiD Versions

I was kind of doing it as songs that I had heard for the first time this year and which I had kept listening to

Me too , or songs which I'd rediscovered this year . And I've also been changing them too - I like the idea of a rolling 8. which seems like a way to get round the limit.

I couldn't stop playing that James Yorkston version of Matty Groves for ages after I got it out of the library

and that version reminded me of Alasdair Roberts , again I'd want to take the whole of that particular album but decisively today, I'd choose Long Lankin from it. An idiosyncratic version of a fine song thats comes with much history and much mystery. [tempted to dig out my folk song history book at this point....throws anorak to one side instead..]

It's that time of year when the media enters review frenzy, endlessly recycling news which should be more accurately entitled 'olds'. I thought I should join in - a review of this sub-forum. It's simple - this particular thread has been the success of the year, more views, posts, discussions and generated some wonderful Spotify listening.

So join me in congratulating this thread and presenting it with this small award which I hope it will proudly wear...

[geofflikesmusic]

Added a few tracks to the list.

Enjoyed the cover of Nick Drake's River Man by Natacha Atlas (original/not remix). Not a big fan of the remix though drowns out her voice for too much for my liking.

I mostly dislike remixes of any kind though.

[johncorrigan]

Added a few tracks to the list.

Excellent geoff.

[Globaltruth]

Excellent geoff.

Yes, you certainly bring somethings new and welcome to the lists Geoff.
I am rapidly developing a penchant for Shanghai Lounge divas.

[johncorrigan]

Yes, you certainly bring somethings new and welcome to the lists Geoff.
I am rapidly developing a penchant for Shanghai Lounge divas.

Oh Global, you are a one - you and your penchants!

[Oilrig]

Would it be a terrible thing if I admitted that I've never used Spotify?

Or Twitter...

[Lateralthinking1]

Oilrig - Not using Twitter is a definite plus. Spotty though is essential. You would be very welcome.

On post 790, I very much like Natacha Atlas. I bought the Gedida cd.

However, River Man. It's nice. I like it more than this year's version by the Jason Parker Quartet which I included in my 250. A whole reworking there of Five Leaves Left. But I don't feel that anyone can match the original. It wasn't just Nick. He had in Robert Kirby an equal to George Martin.

Are there some artists who can't be covered at all easily? Herbie Hancock did a reasonable job for Joni and there was, of course, Matthews Southern Comfort. Other than that, I'm doubtful. Van Morrison is tricky. Bob Marley may be another rather surprising example.

This is not to criticise the selection GT. While I agree with Geoff about the 2011 remixes, it has introduced me to the original Mounqaliba from 2010. I am listening to it now as a matter of fact. There are some lovely tracks on it.