James Tansley

Fair enough.

Brave. 👀

#ArtistFave15 8
Siouxsie And The Banshees

Love In A Void | 1979

Another standalone singles that was released in the same month as the album Join Hands but didn’t appear on the album. Terrific song though.

youtu.be/0fpyaCQhIBI

#90sTop30 Near Misses (Random Order)

Tesko Suicide | Sneaker Pimps | 1996

Their second album Splinter is one of my all time favourite albums. An altogether darker and more gothic affair than the debut Becoming X. However the brilliant single Tesko Suicide is my near miss.

youtu.be/eFSiMyXkFw8

#80sTop30 24

Welcome To The Pleasuresome |
Frankie Goes To Hollywood | 1984

The singles were all amazing but it’s the full whistles and bells album version of Welcome To The Pleasuredome that makes my list. It ebbs and flows to perfection, a sonic masterpiece.

youtu.be/XcSLxE_a-H8

It’s great isn’t it.

#ArtistFave15 9
Siouxsie And The Banshees

Israel | 1980

The Banshees released a few standalone singles in their early years. I have another one in my list to come but Israel is up first.

youtu.be/Rf9uXPBqGhw

#90sTop30 Near Misses (Random Order)

Mermaids | Paul Weller | 1997

Heavy Soul’s closing track. It’s almost a throwaway track but was released as a single. The charming Mermaids just misses my thirty.

youtu.be/bVDi7qzFsIY

#80sTop30 25

Christine | The House Of Love | 1988

Probably the first truly indie artist I fell for. They were press darlings with zero chart success but Christine was the spark and a sonic revelation. Those guitars were nothing like I’d heard before. I was instantly smitten.

youtu.be/wIKpkjlptNY

#ArtistFave15 10
Siouxsie And The Banshees

Eve White/Eve Black | 1980

The second of two b-sides in my list. This time it’s the stunning flip-side of Christine.

youtu.be/6nQpz1bLQdE

There can’t be many songs with pigeon impressions in them. 🤔

😂

Thanks. 😁👍

And the pigeon impression near the end is marvellous too. 😂

I prefer it. 😁

It didn’t fall in terms of places Dave as the anthology is listed in chronological order. The top sixty is in order of votes but the anthology has the most popular tracks from each album but listed chronologically.

#90sTop30 Near Misses (Random Order)

Weekender | Flowered Up | 1992

Flowered Up’s magnum opus. A track that runs at just under thirteen minutes long but never outstays it’s welcome.

youtu.be/Gn2GYzJjR2I

#80sTop30 26

Soul Inside | Soft Cell | 1983

It faced stiff competition from Sex Dwarf’s miniature ways but my Soft Cell choice has to be Soul Inside. The way it builds to its crescendo is magnificent. The almost primal 12” mix is astonishing too.

youtu.be/0cE0kya4feA?...

#ArtistFave15 11
Siouxsie And The Banshees

Drop Dead / Celebration | 1980

The ultimate fuck you. A spite-filled tirade (supposedly about ex-band members about Kenny Morris and John McKay). Musically it’s top drawer Banshees and one of their best b-sides.

youtu.be/UpKm1WwF1EM

#REMtop30
Final post regarding the recent #REMtop30 #MusicChallenge Here’s the final playlist of the top sixty tracks voted for and for comparison, the expanded #REManthology playlist from September 2022.

R.E.M. 60
open.spotify.com/playlist/1xd...

R.E.M. Anthology
open.spotify.com/playlist/6GK...

It’s the only way. 😁😂

Yes. Makes it tricky but there’s so much to include that I found it’s the best way. You?

😁

Yes that looks good.

#90sTop30 Near Misses (Random Order)

Pearl’s Girl | Underworld | 1996

Spoilt for choice with Underworlds’s 1990s output but I’m going for the track that drew me in to begin with.

youtu.be/MSXsCTU2h-E

#80sTop30 27

Duel | Propaganda | 1985

The ZTT label produced some of the greatest singles of the 80s. Frankie, The Art Of Noise, Grace Jones and of course Propaganda. Duel still sounds fresh today.

youtu.be/GwvO97FbmW0

ArtistFave15 12
Siouxsie And The Banshees

Metal Postcard (Mittageisen) | 1978

One of my favourite tracks on The Scream. It was re-recorded (as Mittageisen) for the double a-sided single release with Love In A Void but it’s the original version I’ve selected.

youtu.be/GX7_9zmRUKo

No worries. What was your number one?

#90sTop30 Near Misses (Random Order)

Lowdown | Electrafixion | 1995

Before returning as The Bunnymen in 1997 Ian McCulloch and Will Sergeant burned briefly as Electrafixion. They released one album and four singles, for me, Lowdown was the pick of the bunch.

youtu.be/Z1RVelBUaeQ

#80sTop30 28

Mr. X | Ultravox | 1980

Complete with a spoken word vocal from the smouldering Warren Cann, the sleek, elegant and mysterious Mr. X is still my Ultravox (Mk2) go to track. Astradyne was close to making my list but Mr. X is the one I return to the most.

youtu.be/nCP-_U2WxPI