Sunday, February 24, 2013

Music Listography- Day 2: 20 Albums You'd Bring On A Spaceship

If you were, hypothetically speaking, leaving planet Earth on spaceship or any other inter-planetary space travel vehicle (perhaps a TARDIS), what albums would you bring with you for the journey?

A thought provoking and challenging question is the topic for today's post. I sadly couldn't make it to 20, but I may add to this list later. I think I was being particularly harsh on which albums deserved a spot here, mainly because these are the albums you potentially will be listening to the REST OF YOUR LIFE. IN SPACE. Where no-one can hear you sing.



  1. A Rush of Blood To The Head- Coldplay: Like my own 'Sophie's Choice'.
  2. Greatest Hits- Queen: A must.
  3. Young Americans- David Bowie: I love this album from start to finish.
  4. Best of Bowie- David Bowie: Two words 'Modern Love'. Plus, he's an alien. AND there's 'Starman' and 'Space Oddity' and MAJOR TOM to consider. 
  5. Lungs- Florence and the Machine: Flawless.
  6. Happiness- Hurts: Moody and ambient.
  7. Light Years- Kylie Minogue: If only to play the title track on a spaceship. I have to, it's my only chance.
  8. Born To Die/Paradise- Lana Del Rey: Another perfect record (s).
  9. Ray of Light- Madonna: Moody and ambient.
  10. Rudebox- Robbie Williams: Necessary for the synths.
  11. Recurring Dream- Crowded House: I won't leave Earth without this.
  12. Greatest- Duran Duran: If I didn't play 'Planet Earth' during liftoff, there would be some very pissed off people.
  13. Overpowered- Roisin Murphy: Another favourite of mine.
  14. Spiegel im Spiegel- Fur Alina: Classical piece that I couldn't live without.
I guess there's not a lot of 'classic' albums on there, and two appearances by Bowie. Plus 4 Greatest Hits compilations- is that cheating a bit?

Bowie thinks otherwise.

What do you think of the list so far? Think my time in space would sonically suck? Needs more Eno? Tweet, Facebook, Tumblr me your thoughts or leave your thoughts downstairs.

Saturday, February 23, 2013

Music Listography: Day 1- Top 20 Favourite Bands

I've decided to do a '30 days of' esque theme here on the blog in accordance with the book 'Music Listography: Your Life in (Play) lists'. I don't know how many lists there are because I'm too lazy to count (what's new?)

So, the first list is 'Top 20 Favourite Bands' and this proved to be more difficult than I expected because a)what did they mean by 'band'? exclusively rock groups or are girl groups and boy bands included here as well? and b) do I even like 20 bands?

To answer these questions:
2) I took a leap and said yes to pop groups being included here. It's my list so, whatevs.
b) Turns out, I don't.



On to the list then.
  1. Coldplay: need I say more? It's going to be a requirement that any future love interests must love them too (or at least be willing to go to their shows with me).
  2. Take That: 10 years ago I didn't really know them. 8 years ago, I hated them. Now, I consider them one of the best groups around.
  3. ABBA: defined my 90s childhood and early noughties teen years.
  4. Duran Duran: Oh, to be a teen in the 80s *le sigh*
  5. End Of Fashion: underrated band. Their second album, Book of Lies, was the soundtrack to my first year at uni.
  6. Eskimo Joe: 2006 was the year of the Eskimos for me. I think I listened to Black Fingernails, Red Wine every night that year. Such a perfect album.
  7. Florence and the Machine: they're a band, everybody! Flawless and perfect.
  8. Franz Ferdinand: A Scottish tour de force. Best memory is opening the first pages of 'A Clockwork Orange' played along side 'The Fallen'.
  9. Queen: because of reasons. 
  10. Girls Aloud: one of the greatest girl groups to hail from the UK.
  11. Bee Gees: those harmonies tho.
  12. Scissor Sisters: I love their campy weirdness. Plus, I much prefer their version of 'Comfortably Numb' to Pink Floyd's original. 
  13. Sugababes: Like Girls Aloud, you know a group is good when their b-sides are just as coveted as their a-sides.
  14. U2; I debated putting them here but 'New Year's Day' kind of sealed the deal for me.
  15. The xx: too soon? Maybe. 
  16. Phoenix: Dug up their back catalogue post- Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix


That's all I have for now. Let me know if you agree/disagree/ are raging about my choices on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr or in the comments