So, we seem to be emerging from the Christmas lull that stops all the good music releases, and we can safely return to building our music collection. I’m switching these posts over to using Spotify links so you can get easy and free access to the best new music straight away. Here are my first new music recommendations of 2010:
- The Road by Nick Cave & Warren Ellis – the soundtrack from the new Viggo Mortensen movie is, as you would expect, a fairly austere affair. It’s along the same lines as their previous effort for The Assassination of Jesse James – gentle, dark and sinister, focusing on subdued piano and rumbling electronica. An amazing soundtrack that stands alone from the movie.
- Acolyte by Delphic – completely ubiquitous at the moment, after supporting Little Boots last year, their indie dance sound is everywhere. Sounding a little like New Order this is eminently danceable, superbly constructed stuff.
- Despite the Snow by Emily Barker – I missed this when it was released in August last year, a gentle singer songwriter from Australia, recorded in the UK. Sounds a little like Natalie Merchant, rootsy and folky – stripped down guitar and vocals that rely on string songs. If you were wondering about track one – it’s the theme tune from ‘Wallander’ on BBC1.
What are you listening to at the moment?
Why am I so cheerful this morning?
Why are you so cheerful this Monday morning?
As snow and ice envelopes the UK (and Western Europe), I’m looking for inspiration to provide a sense of warmth on this Sunday morning. As usual, we’re kicking off with a nice heart warming tune – this week, Ken Booth – Everything I Own. Fire that up, and then relax back with this weeks slice of inspiration. If you want more – my current Spotify playlist is here.
- The Children’s Trust is doing well on our donations – including the heart warming story of Alby, who got knocked over last year, recovering and even back on his feet. Marvellous, truly inspiration young man, family and charity supporting them.
- 100 personal growth posts – nice list of links to posts that should inspire you to many life changes. It’s a great collection, and worth bookmarking.
- 100,000 vintage ads – after last weeks visit to Farbor Sid, I was reminded of this terrific site which has tons of old advertisements to browse, all categorised so that you can find interesting things, like shaving ads from the 40’s or beauty products from the 1900’s.
- Finally – Frozen Britain – seen from above, this has been posted everywhere – but I’d like a link on here for posterity. A satellite image showing the UK bathed in beautiful snow. There is something very cleansing and pure about the blanket. Alternatively – It’s just snow says Gemma K
What is inspiring you this week?
The dream of any food market is abundance – and the recent cold snap in the UK has put that to the test in the local supermarkets. People have been panic buying (ridiculous) and understandably stocks are low in some things – however, there is no excuse for the place being untidy. My local supermarket looked like a bomb had gone off – lots of empty shelves, lots of product scattered around the shelves.
The really unforgivable thing for me is the lack of professionalism that allows the store to use the sign above. FAIL.
The principles of excellent start with attention – to customers AND to detail – this kind of thing really lets them down.
How are you enabling your staff to give great customer service?
You have to dream, you have to have a vision, and you have to set a goal for yourself that might even scare you a little because sometimes that seems far beyond your reach. Then I think you have to develop a kind of resistance to rejection, and to the disappointments that are sure to come your way – Gregory Peck
And that’s how it is – find your North Star (make it a stretch goal) and take steps toward it every day, be persistent and determined.
What keeps you flying true to your goal?
I recently posted a number of music recommendation sites for filling your new MP3 player – but over the last few weeks I’ve been using Spotify more and more to listen to tunes whilst at my PC. If you haven’t tried it, I highly recommend it – for free (with ads) or a reasonable subscription you get to access as much music as you can possibly want, and also find and listen to new music.
I’ve been using it to build playlists and listen to new albums. From now on, all of the music links on mattrutherford.com will be to Spotify, so if you have any account – you can easily listen to a recommendation and if you like, can buy the album – there is no affiliate programme, so I’m not gaining from the process (apart from sharing great tunes).
I’ve also bee trying out some music recommendation sites that work with Spotify – and this is one of the best – it links your last.fm ID and checks for new music by people in your top 50 lists. Awesome for finding new material, it can also find Spotify links from your recommendations.
PS – Its legal, and you can use it offline and mobile – so no fears there.
What are you listening to from the clouds?
If you are staying with the programme, then you’ll know that 2010 is going to be an amazing year. Amongst the many shooting stars this year will be some brand new ones in the music industry, I’ve picked out 5 artistes that I’m convinced will be massive this year.
Here’s a quick Spotify playlist with the key tunes, and here are those all important five:
- Ellie Goulding – Welsh singer-songwriter who supported Little Boots on her recent tour, poppy, danceable and tons of fun.
- Erik Hassle – Swedish singer-songwriter, this years Mr Hudson maybe?
- Lissie – supported Ray LaMontagne, similar accessible country style.
- Chase and Status – Drum and Bass prodigies, already worked with Jay-Z & Rhianna
- Eliza Doolittle – like a laidback Lily Allen, bubble gum with sharp edge my favourite of this pack.
Who are you keeping an eye on in 2010?
Today might be tough for some people – not for me, I’m actually looking forward to 2010 and even getting back to work, so I’m up early at at them! I have my revolution ideas and I have Nick Bates’ Monday poster near my desk.
Most of all though – I have tons of good stuff to look forward to – not least of which is some marvellous music due to drop in 2010 – here are some of the albums I am really looking forward to.
- Heligoland – Massive Attack ( Feb 8th)
- One Life Stand – Hot Chip (Feb 8th)
- Computers and Blues – The Streets (Feb 23rd)
- Here Lies Love – David Byrne and Fatboy Slim (Feb 23rd)
- Head First – Goldfrapp (March 23rd)
- The Colossus – RJD2 (January 19th)
- The Conqueror – Patrick Wolf (Date tbc)
- Untitled – Portishead (Date tbc)
- The Golden Archipelago – Shearwater (Feb 23rd)
- Leave your Sleep – Natalie Merchant (Mar 2nd)
- Untitled – Interpol (Date tbc)
I’ll be posting some more reasons to be cheerful – maybe to brighten up your Monday mornings…
What gives you reason to be cheerful?
At the beginning of a brand new year – time to be completely awesome – but first some inspiration. As usual, some inspirational music to get you in the right frame of mind, today from Ian Brown – The Sweet Fantastic (Spotify), a well disguised love song – how can anyone not love it when someone says “You make me feel majestic”?
- Farbor Sid Retrospective – from Sweden, so the text is a bit tough to read, but the photos are amazing – culled from vintage magazines and presented in digital glory, this site is chock full of great images to get your creative juices flowing.
- Youthedesigner – you might be thinking about refreshing your business image and stationery is an important part of that. These 83 beautiful letterheads and logo designs will whet your appetite.
- Welcoming 2010 – a regular site in my inspiration series, Boston.Com The Big Picture has a great photoset showing New Year celebrations from around the world. Fantastic photographs – I particularly like #10 which shows Pakistani youths spraying fake snow in Lahore.
What is inspiring you today?
Snow days and holidays give me the opportunity to dip into as many books as possible, and Instant Brilliant 2010 has been waiting patiently for me over the holiday period.
Nicholas Bate has pulled together this excellent book from a series of blog posts on his excellent blog. I’m a huge fan of his writing style, short punchy lists that prompt you to think for yourself, asking you questions that provoke and inspire.
Instant Brilliant 2010 is full of tips and guidelines to help you be brilliant. Divided into a number of short chapters, Career, Wellness, Relationships and Money amongst many others – Nick makes some excellent suggestions to get you on your way.
You can order Instant Brilliant directly from blurb.com which also lists a number of other books by Nicholas Bate.
Thanks Nick for the early copy – an excellent read – highly recommended.
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