The six hundred and thirty-ninth album: #639 New Order - Technique

The heavy electronic undercurrent of New Order's fifth album, inspired by the dance and house music that was on the rise and clearly big in Ibiza, where the album was recorded. The style differs from almost pure rock sounds to almost purely electronic and in fact Fine Time, the track that kicks off the album, feels more like a house music track with distorted vocals than any sort of rock. The style varies deeply through the album, in a way that is satisfying and that feels like it'll give you something regardless of your musical leanings.

The two hundred and thirty-sixth classical recording: #56 Alessandro Scarlatti - Cantatas

Early on, I talked about how the vocals of early choral work didn't appeal. Clearly, by this point it had been worked out, as the songs Scarlatti composed sound amazing, here with a beautiful soprano performance, and the underlying music supporting it so well. 

The two hundred and twenty-ninth TV show: #30 The Nat King Cole Show

It's undoubtably an accomplishment to be the first succesful African American (variety) TV host, and he does well at it. He's charming, striking the right balance, and especially in a segregated country walks the line quite well in what he can do. The bits of skits are okay, but barely feature, and it's really a half hour of songs from various guests as well as Nat King Cole. It's also a program that gives you songs from the fifties - just not something that connects as much with a modern audience.

The six hundred and thirty-eighth album: #638 John Lee Hooker - The Healer

This whole album is a blues throwback, down to lyrics that feel like they belong more in the fifties than the eighties (how many in the American audience would have connected to anything related to train travel?). The production values show it's a newer album, and the instruments that accompany John Lee Hooker, as well as the duets, have an upbeat that make it sound more modern, but it still feels out of time.

The nine hundred and eighty-second song: Mercy - Duffy

While Amy Winehouse might have been the most notable female vocalist of the era, there are a number of others who rose up at tthe same time. Duff is one of them, and the swinging Mercy is memorable enough to remember. It's a track that lets itself stick with you.

The nine hundred and eighty-third song: Sabali - Amadou & Mariam

There's often a treat to get a world music track like this, one that gives you something different you couldn't have expected. There is a contemporary dance beat in this, but the way the sounds are formed and the track is formed stands out in how different - and full - it feels. 

The nine hundred and eighty-fourth song: Divine - Sebastien Tellier

Divine is a pleasantly welcome throwback to the pop of yore, with acapella backings and a smooth synth backing track. It's simple enough, with the requisite Eurovision break, but it's just a joy at the same time.

The nine hundred and eighty-fifth song: Mykonos - Fleet Foxes

There's something slightly experimental that's starting to peek through in music, as if we're experimenting what the next decade will bring musically. Mykonos' chorus are simple harmonies in a way that works strongly, creating a spiritual feeling while the track remains as quite straightforward rock otherwise. It's a strong, welcome sound.

The nine hundred and eighty-sixth song: Time To Pretend - MGMT

The electronic rock of MGMT creates a party feeling that also feels unsettling, the depression of loneliness inside a celebration of a fictional rockstar life. The lyrics are exquisite and the combination here works in creating and enhancing that edge.

The nine hundred and eighty-seventh song: Sweet Disposition - The Temper Trap

This is a fairly simple, fun and accessible indie rock song, Not overly complex, but accessible and simple enough to stay fun. Perhaps it's not spectacular, but it works.

The nine hundred and eighty-eighth song: L.E.S. Artistes - Santogold

In the strengthening of pop, this is another track that just feels good, at a point where it feels electronic music is getting even better integrated.

The nine hundred and eighty-ninth song: Sex on Fire - Kings of Leon

Going back and forth between pop and rock, Kings of Leon's sound feels quite a modern rock sound, present without overwhelming you, giving some good lyrics with a memorable hook, while the music works in that solid alt rock way.

The nine hundred and ninetieth song: One Day Like This - Elbow

The classical opening, using a string section that keeps going through the entirety of the track while the traditional rock instruments stay in the back. As the "Throw those curtains wide" chant starts, it feels like it's holding back, never quite giving a release I'm looking for.

The nine hundred and ninety-first song: Viva la Vida - Coldplay

For a band that divides opinions, listening and focusing on the lyrics shows an interesting depth of references - it starts early on with what could be sung from the perspective of the last emperor of China. The music is stadium filling, a clear anthem that some might feel over the top, but it stands as a song that tells a vivid story in both lyrics and music.

The six hundred and thirty-seventh album: #637 Lenny Kravitz - Let Love Rule

Lenny Kravitz' soul-inspired rock hits some of the notes I'm looking to find, the funk inspiration elevating a lot of the songs sound interesting, while the rock sounds creates an undertone that keeps the songs moving along well. With the different emotions it touches and the different points it makes, it becomes a gorgeous and worthwhile album.

The two hundred and thirty-fifth classical recording: #408 Johannes Brahms - Symphony no. 2

There's something really pleasant about this symphony. It puts you in the rustic countryside mindset, there's energy from a number of things going on, but there's also a calmness in the world, a reference to nature in the way that's cultivated by man. There's a real beauty in it in that feels properly manicured.

The six hundred and thirty-sixth album: #636 Faith No More - The Real Thing

It feels like Epic represents this album quite well: A metal track that features rap more heavily than other related bands were doing at this time, with a good variation between aggression and more considered ballads. Lyrically, there's a decent amount of depth when it wants to be, but it's willing to be up front and angry as well. The variation is just enough to keep your interest without swinging away from its strengths too much.

The nine hundred and seventy-second song: Please Read The Letter - Robert Plant & Alison Krauss

This is a gentle, accessible folk song that is a lovely, sweet love/break up song - there's a lot of kindness in the sense of break up that plays through this.

The nine hundred and seventy-third song: Crank That (Soulja boy) - Soulja Boy

Having just covered an eighties hip hop track, the contrast with more modern rap stands out. There's that classic party feeling and the steel pan beat stands out as old fashioned, but it runs faster with more slang that you wouldn't have gotten back then, but all feels more accessible and interesting now. It's a modern song that works with what we have now.

The nine hundred and seventy-fourth song: My People - The Presets

The electronic sound of My People is heavy, pushing down in a way that features with the lyrics but also gives more bass than you might otherwise get. It's a good dance track, but as someone who's not into the genre, it gets to be too much.

The nine hundred and seventy-fifth song: Flux - Bloc Party

Though billed as a rock song, Flux is pretty much fully electronic, a rapid beat underlying some auto tuned vocals to complete that feeling. At this point, the artificiality feels a bit much and I think it gets done better, but it's interesting how the genre is getting pushed here.

The nine hundred and seventy-sixth song: My Moon My Man - Feist

This is the pop era my partner listens a lot to, so it was a pleasant surprise to recognise this. It's a lovely happy track, accessible and quite sweet to listen to, and it's one that works for mostly any mood to give you what you need.

The nine hundred and seventy-seventh song: D.A.N.C.E. - Justice

Sometimes guest vocals can steal the show, and here the chorus is infectious, sang so it makes me happy every time, while the upbeat music comes along to that to really give it body. It feels like one of those perfect packages.

The nine hundred and seventy-eighth song: re;Stacks - Bon Iver

There's so much sadness in this song, a heartbreak that plays throughout, and the vocals reflect that to a painful degree, really giving you that feeling of heartbreak. It's incredibly effective, hitting you where it hurts, and it's lovely for it.

The nine hundred and seventy-ninth song: With Every Heartbeat - Robyn with Kleerup

Another one that I've heard a lot, there's a real power in this heartbreak song - the determination to move on from something and not look back is strong throughout this track and the energy of the music and strong vocals reflect that. It references the pain, but does much more than sit in it.

The nine hundred and eightieth song: Someone Great - LCD Soundsystem

As another electronic rock song, there's an interesting mix of sounds at work, light tinkles with a dark beat that feels a bit unsettling. It sticks with you and compels you, but it's not something I can entirely get into.

The nine hundred and eighty-first song: Paper Planes - M.I.A.

There's an interesting contrast in this between the verses and chorus of this song. The lyrics are lovely, with some aggressive lyrics but an ongoing flow. Then as it goes into the chorus, it's a more directed sound, interspersed with gunshots and slot machine sounds. It feels like a statement, though one I'm not sure I can pull out of the track myself, but it's strong even so.

The two hundred and twenty-eighth TV show: #25 The Benny Hill Show

There's a definite issue with comedy not always aging well - falling behind in what we enjoy, with a number of jokes no longer feeling as funny. It's fair to say that Benny Hill's semi-nude chases are an example of this, together with some stereotyping that don't get a delivery that works these days. What is more interesting is that it's not just times moving on, but that watching episodes from later seasons, the comedy seems to regress - more focused on "I can't do", doubling down on the things that work less and overall less funny and interesting - which is something that happened without me watching year on year. Early on, it's an enjoyable insight in comedy at the time, but it changes for the worse after that.