Mike Bennett writesFriday iPod/MP3 Shuffle—Happy Birthday Colin Moulding Edition

While he took a back seat in XTC to the force of nature that is Andy Partridge, Colin Moulding was vital to the band’s survival early on. After all, it was Moulding who penned the song that put XTC in the UK charts, “Making Plans For Nigel”, along with a song that really got them attention in the States, “Generals and Majors” (which received a maximum score of 98 on Rate-A-Record on American Bandstand). While not as prolific as Partridge, Moulding almost always contributed key tunes on XTC albums. Moreover, he is not mentioned enough as one of the best bass players ever, with a special meldic gift — he’s pretty much the Paul McCartney of bass players of the new wave/post-punk era. Let’s pay tribute to Colin by grabbing your iPod or MP3 player, hitting shuffle and sharing the first 10 songs that come up. 

1. Billy Bragg — Cindy Of A Thousand Lives (Don’t Try This At Home): Bragg started as a busker, making true solo records, just Bragg, his electric guitar and his witty and incisive lyrics. He eventually added other instruments, which really unleashed his strong melodic skills. This song is far removed from his primitive beginnings, as Bragg’s strummed acoustic is tucked inside layers of keyboards. The song builds up to a nice jangle fest instrumental break on what is a typically thoughtful character study.
2. The Replacements — Favorite Thing (Let It Be): This song represents the intersection of the Placemats’ sloppy, fun punk sound and the rootsier music that was tickling Paul Westerberg’s fancy at the time. This results in a wonderful rock tune with some screaming guitar and a fair amount of twang, which delays the gratification of the wonderful chorus until the track is about half over, but once they get to that, they don’t let it wear out its welcome, Westerberg coming up with a second refrain on which to close the song. Not as simple as it seems.
3. Outrageous Cherry — Trouble Girl (Our Love Will Change The World): An uncharacteristically forceful riff rock song from this overlooked Detroit band. This song could easily be turned into a great power pop song. Matthew Smith is a master of all forms of ’60s and early ’70s rock, and this song chugs along very well.
4. Kylie Auldist — It’s On (Made Of Stone): A slinky, funky R & B song, made all the hotter by the great pipes of this Australian soul singer. Auldist is backed by the band she sings with, The Bamboos, and this song plays to all of her strengths. Auldist never oversings, because she never needs to. She can pretty much adapt to any classic R & B style, as she is preternaturally soulful.
5. The Revelers — Meet Me At The Station (Hard Time, Sunday Spirits): The Revelers were a mod inspired power pop band from Cleveland. This song is an organ drenched mid-tempo song that’s steeped in The Small Faces and The Action and The Rascals. The basic chord sequence is nothing too original, but it sets a tone, and it sets up a killer chorus. The more I think about it, this sounds like The Easybeats could have done this.
6. Malachai — Distance (Return To The Ugly Side): Malachai inhabit a mysterious world, playing tunes that combine fine songcraft, which is often rooted in ’60s psychedelia, with modern production techniques that are inspired by trip hop and other aspects of contemporary electronic music. This is a haunting track, with sustained piano notes and sampled percussion, with a funereal melody on top. This band is always interesting.
7. The Bonniwell Music Machine — King Mixer (Ignition): The Music Machine made the Nuggets compilation for their sole hit, “Talk Talk”. This is from a collection of various songs from the latter part of the band’s career. I think this song has been done by a bunch of ’60s bands. This features an electric piano, upping the R & B vibe on what is otherwise a basic garage tune.
8. Santigold — Disparate Youth (Master Of My Make-Believe): One of the better tunes on Santigold’s second album. I think the second album doesn’t come close to the perfect balance of pop, R & B, reggae and world music (i.e. M.I.A.) influenced hip hop, mostly dispensing with the fizzy new wave pop that gave her debut an extra king. This song is solid slice of R & B with a slight rock edge and a hint of reggae. While I may not throw the album on any time soon, it’s nice to hear on a shuffle.
9. The Fall — Hot Aftershave Bop (B Sides 458489): This is from a two CD collection of six years worth of b-sides from The Fall which provides further proof of a what fertile period it was for the band. While there are some trifles and duds amongst the many tunes, what is striking is how many of these would have fit right in the albums released at the time. This is a boppy rockabilly-garage rock number, with a cool mix of guitars and a prominent bassline.
10. Game Theory — Linus And Lucy (The Big Shot Chronicles): This arty power pop band took a shot at the familiar piano theme that is associated with all of those Peanuts cartoons. Not as funky as The Vince Guaraldi Trio version, but I’m sure they had fun playing it. I’d have to double check, but I’m pretty sure this is a CD bonus track.