Before I do anything essential but mundane on this Friday morning, it’s time to set the iPod free for the weekly shuffle!
1. Little America by REM. From the early jangly guitar REM era, a great track culled from the Reckoning album.
2. Again here by Largo. The sun is going down, I’m outside the Cafe del Mar with an ice cold San Miguel and this is playing. Oh, no. That was in 2003.
3. Only Love Can Break Your Heart by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. Heavenly version of a great Young song from the CSNY 1974 live album. Oh, those voices, especially the acapella bit at the end.
4. Nothing Compares 2 U by Prince. I know some people say that Sinead’s cover version is better, but nothing compares to Prince.
5. The Right Place To Fade by Lindsey Buckingham. Unmistakably Mr Buckingham, and a clear indication of where Fleetwood mac’s best music comes from. From the brilliant Gift of Screws record, echoes of Second Hand News/Go Your Own Way here, sort of.
6. World by New Order. I turn sideways to the sun, keep my thoughts from everyone. That Peter Hook. Great song.
7. Come As You Are by Nirvana.
8. Chores by Animal Collective. More than slightly bonkers electronica from the Collective’s Strawberry Jam album. If you played this on vinyl, you would be concerned that the record had stuck.
9. This One by Paul McCartney. My favourite ever solo Macca track. Even better than Another Day.
10. I Know But I Don’t Know by Blondie. Yet another great tune from Parallel Lines. What a record that was.
