Much too long and quite boring. Hurrah!

I made a CD for my friend in China - only it seems a lot like I made it for myself:

Cat Power – The Greatest
Reluctant as I was to pick the most obvious track from the album, I have because it remains my favourite, mainly due to listening to the album when falling asleep, resulting in only ever really remembering the first 3 songs properly.

Au Revoir Simone – Backyard of our Neighbours
One of those bands where you hear a track on a compilation and think ‘that sounds good, I’ll buy their album’, then upon listening to the album realise you should have left it at the one track because the rest of it is quite weak and little annoying. This is the good track obviously.

Nina Nastastia – It’s a Dog’s Life
This is funny because it’s about being a dog and how although it’s fun to be a dog sometimes you are misunderstood and chased away by old men and sometimes you upset small children. Just like being a human.

Neko Case – If You Knew
I am still firmly in my Neko Case phase. This is slightly more, erm, strident than I’d usually go for, but I like it nonetheless. I am pretty sure that the recipient of the CD will dislike it though.

Concretes – Chosen One
Still not sure about the Concretes, but I really like this one. Also squashed face cats in the video.

Jenny Wilson – Let My Shoes Lead Me Forward (Knife mix)
This one makes me feel clever because it’s a bit dancey and I’d never heard of Jenny Wilson, and for quite a while I mistakenly thought it was Jenny Lewis the winsome country singer being remixed by the Knife, and I was impressed but it turned out it wasn’t her, but remained impressed, albeit in a different way.

Orange Juice – Rip It Up
Just because.

Baltimora – Tarzan Boy
This was the entire reason for making this CD, so my friend could hear this, err, gem. Anyway, it’s pretty much terrible, apparently sung by people who have no idea how to pronounce English, but who are actually Irish, so should know better. The chorus is the best part, and the bits where he says ‘monkey business’.

April March – Winter Cave
I don’t know if I like April March, I think I bought this album because it has a cover of ‘Some Things Just Stick in Your Mind’, but I find her voice grates a tiny bit. Naturally I included the track mainly because it would make me look eclectic.

Stina Nordenstam – Winter Killing
Lovely lovely Stina, revealing herself in this song as the other woman in an affair. Proof if proof be need be that Millie Jackson’s concept album ‘Still Caught Up’ was not the final word on this subject. Thankfully.

Camille – Vous
Makes me look good because its modern and in French. The French aspect helps cover up the fact that it’s a bit shite. No idea what it’s about but suspect it’s political as she can be heard to sing ‘Angleterre’ and ‘Tony Blair’. Oh well.

Belle and Sebastian – Your Cover’s Blown
I still think this is the best thing they’ve done for ages. Also any song that uses multiple key and tempo changes, sounds a little bit like Pink Floyd and uses the word ‘bummers’ is ok by me.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Y Control
I just like this.

Francoise Hardy – Ton Meilleur Ami
Again, French, so I look good. Also old, so even more cool points. Could be about bestiality for all I know.

The Motels – Anticipating
A good track from an album that contains many laughable moments, including a song called ‘Porn Reggae’.

Neko Case – Star Witness
More Neko. She pretty lady. Has undertones of violence.

Cat Power – Naked If I Want To
And more again. The word ‘naked’ is a bit rude too.

El Perro del Mar – I Can’t Really Talk About It
I know nothing of this lot; I listen to it and wonder how it is possible to sing like they do.

Coco Rosie – Good Friday
It’s about Santa. I’m running out of things to say.

Kate Bush – The Kick Inside
Wrong choice of Bush here. Totally inappropriate for the target audience. I should have gone for James and the Cold Ham, or something jauntier.

Neil Young – One Of These Days
Again, totally wrong. More proof that I made this CD for myself and I will probably never post it to Shanghai at all. Nice way to end though.