Loz's+choices

=2011 CCJDS Tune Swap=

Here is why I chose the songs that I did.

1) From Despair to Where? **Manic Street Preachers**

One of my favourite all time bands. They come from South Wales and were originally a punk group. This song just reminds me of being at college and the good friends that I had. We used to go to a club called The Pink Coconut and when this song came on we would sprint to the dance floor! The band grew in popularity and eventually won best album of the year twice at the Brit Awards (like the Grammys). I saw them live when they supported Nirvana and they blew them off stage. An interesting story about the band is that the original guitarist, Richie disappeared and has never been found. Although, the band still credits him on their songs, over 15 years later.

2) Local Boy in the Photograph - **Stereophonics**

This whole album is really emotional to me. Another Welsh band that I first heard of in 1998 when I was living in Sydney. I went to see them live at the Metro in Bondi and most of the audience seemed to be Welsh. It was a great night. Anyway, the next day my friend who I was living with (my ex-brother in law) and I rented a motor home and began our trip from Sydney up the coast towards Cairns and the Great Barrier reef. This album played over and over again and this is my favourite track. It is even more poiniant to me now that my friend passed away a year or so later and every time I hear this son I think about him.

3) I Bet You Look Good On the Dance floor - **Arctic Monkeys**

No real story to this track, just that it is a great song and I love how the singer doesn't change his working class, Sheffield accent, like a lot of singers do.

4) The Ballad of Tom Jones - **Space**

This is a great song by a band from Liverpool. I saw them live during 'Freshers Fortnight' at University back in 1994. This track is from 1998 and was a huge hit in Europe and Australia. I just think it is a funny song when you listen to the lyrics. Also, I used to play soccer with the lead singer, but didn't realize until I saw them on stage.

5) Northern Lites - **Super Furry Animals** - Another Welsh band, from very close to my town. They used to play live in the local club all the time and then had a few hits and became pretty popular. Rhys Ifans (The guy who lives with Hugh Grant in Notting Hill) used to be a member of the band. They are also huge friends with Howard Marks, who used to be the biggest smuggler of drugs in the world and was on the same wanted list as Pablo Escobar.

6) Fine Time - **Cast**

If you know the song 'There She Goes' by the La's then this might remind you of them. The lead singer, John Powers, was in the La's. They are a band from Liverpool and have a very distinctive sound. Again, I love when British bands sing in there own accent and don't sing as if they are from America.

7) The Bitter End - **Placebo**

Not a huge Placebo fan, but I love this song. I always play this song over and over when I'm on a plane because it gets my adrenalin pumping and as a nervous flier this song gets me through take off!

8) Trash - **Suede**

One of the most underrated bands out there. They have been around nearly 20 years now, but their sound is still pretty unique. This isn't their best song, but I like it and has a line in it that says "The litter on the breeze", I always misheard it as "Glitter on your briefs" which makes me smile.

9) Rocks - **Primal Scream**

A great track by a band who are almost constantly off their heads on drugs. A rare moment of clarity.

10) You're Speaking my language - **Juliette and the Licks**

Hollywood actress Juliette Lewis and her band. My sister told me abut them and I was sceptical about a hollywood actress doing music. But this track really proves that she has the attitude to pull it off.

11) Richard III - **Supergrass**

A great band, who have made some really amazing songs over the years. This track will always remind me of my good friend Al. We used to play this song before going out for the night and it really got us into the mood for a terrific evening of beer and dancing. It is the kind of song that I wish I could play live in front of a crowd.

12) The Deceiver - **The Alarm**

This band is from my hometown (Rhyl, North Wales) and the lead singer is a close friend of the family. A lot of the instruments and equipment you see in the music room is from him as he gave it to me. I worked for him as a roadie during school holidays, touring all around, going to clubs and meeting a lot of famous and infamous people. It was a great experience for a young boy. This song is not their best, but I like it because he plays harmonica whilst playing guitar and that isn't something you see very often anymore.

13) Girls like that - **Custard**

A fun song that reminds me of driving around Australia - A fun summer song.

14) Fools Gold - **The Stone Roses**

Often described as the most important band since the Beatles in the UK, they are legends. Some really funky, cool music, they only made 3 albums but they still play their songs on the radio now. Very cool sound and summed up the early 90s for a lot of people.

15) Reverend Black Grape - **Black Grape**

A song which always makes me smile. Simple

16) You and Me - **The Wannadies**

A beautiful, non-traditional love song. I love the scandinavian accent, and the banal verses that make you think of that special person in your life.

17) Denkmal - **Wir Sind Helden ( We are heroes)**

German band that have a great sound. Reminds me of living in Germany and buying this album for Pam. A lot of German music is dire, but this band are very popular on the continent. Also, proud that at the time it was the first time I realized I could understand the lyrics in German.

18) Ein Kompliment - **Sportfreunde Stiller**

A three piece German rockband. I love this song and I actually covered this and played it live and sung in German which is pretty cool.

19) Favourite Flavour - **Capable Gregg**

Living in Germany a coule of friends and I put together a band and practiced as much as we could after school and at weekends. We played a couple of gigs and this song is one of our own original tunes. It was a great time in my life to meet two guys who just wanted to rock and hang out. I miss them and playing music together. Funny story about the name of the band. We were named after a teacher we worked with who was fired for being 'not very good' anyway I googled him not so long ago and he was Mr. Gay Bay Area a few years ago and lives in Berkeley. I wonder if he knows there is a band named after him?

20) Wake up Boo - **The Boo Radleys**

This song was played every morning in my Hall of Residence during university. We had a rule that whomever woke up first would put this song on full blast. Nobody ever complained when the song came on and we would end up jumping up and down in the corridor. Makes me smile every time I hear it.