Once in a while you come across a song for the first time and you can't stop listening to it, over and over. Not in the way a song can go bad on you ("Hey Ya," "Crazy"), but in the way you still love it months and hundreds of listenings later. My current obsession is Dirty Mags by Blueboy.

I was late to the Twee Pop party, and only recently discovered Blueboy, and the label they recorded for, Sarah Records. Sarah was known for it's stable of Twee and Indie Pop bands, and Blueboy was no exception to this. Dirty Mags is a stand-out from this understanding, it's vibe and tone and carries a more harder, brit-pop, shoegaze sound. Dirty Mags was the lead track on a three song EP released on Sarah in 1995 shortly before the label shuttered.

Blueboy - Dirty Mags

More story and song lyrics after the jump.

The Liverpool duo Johnny Boy released their debut single, the deftly named, You Are The Generation That Bought More Shoes And You Get What You Deserve, in 2004 to critical acclaim. Produced by James Dean Bradfield (Manic Street Preachers), the song is part Ronettes' "Be My Baby" and partJoy Division "Atmosphere." Band member Davo describes it's unique sound as, "Church bells, boy-girl vocals, loops, twists, warps, walls of sound and edgy guitars combined to rekindle the idea of Sandinesta-era Clash having an, erm, shootout with Phil Spector."

In June of 2006 Johnny Boy released their full-length album, however for unknown reasons, it's currently only available in Wales, Sweden, Australia, New Zealand and Japan, and as far as we can tell, sadly through no internet music stores.

Until someone snaps up this duo (Lolly Hayes and Davo) and gives them a proper release schedule, please sample their brilliant and infectious debut single, and try and not dance.

Johnny Boy on MySpace

Johnny Boy - You Are The Generation ...

While watching a movie on cable (would you think less of me if the film was Dodgeball?) I nearly freaked out for a song I hadn't heard in years, The Sugarhill Gang's version of the 60's classic Apache. Of course, I immediately pulled my Sugarhill cd out and played it loud.  I had always known it was a cover, but not much else, so I did a little research.  It's interesting to look and listen to the evolution of the song Apache.

Originally recorded by The Shadows, Cliff Richards' original backup band, Apache was an instrumental hit that the bands solo career. They never achieved as great success as with Apache and played for Richards until 1968 and stayed active until disbanded in 1990.

The next incarnation for the song was by The Incredible Bongo Band.  TIBB was a revolving-door group of studio musicians led by bongo player Michael Viner. Their funky version of The Shadows' Apache become one of hip-hop's earliest breakbeat staples and one of the most sampled tracks in hip-hop history. First-generation hip-hop DJs Kool Herc and Grandmaster Flash came to rely on its percussion breaks to get block parties moving.

Label mates to Grandmaster Flash, Sugarhill Gang, completely reworked Apache and forged memorable grooves exploring the funk side of rap/hip-hop. Sugarhill Gang was named after their record label, Sugarhill Records (founded by Sylvia Robinson), Sugarhill Gang is known today mainly today for their groundbreaking sampling (Chic's Good Times) hit Rapper's Delight.

Lastly, a decade later, in 1992, the band Senseless Things reworked the tune for Ruby Trax: The NME's Roaring 40, the must-have British indie covers project (and benefit for The Spastic's Society). This version is sadly not good and bespeaks what was wrong with 90's music and included here for evolutionary purposes more than anything else.

The Shadows - Apache (1960)
The Incredible Bongo Band - Apache (1973)
Sugarhill Gang - Apache (Jump On It) (1982)
Senseless Things - Apache (1992)

Sweden has been the source of some very tasty pop of recent couple years including bands like, The Concretes, The Shout Out Louds, Jens Lekman, and The Legends. Add to this list Peter Björn & John.

Formed in 1999 in Stockholm, Peter Björn & John is made up of members Peter Morén on vocals, guitar, and harmonica; Björn Yttling on vocals, bass, vocals, and keyboards; and John Eriksson on drums, percussion, and vocals.

Peter Björn & John - Young Folks

From their 2006 release, Writer's Block, the song Young Folks features Victoria Bergsman of The Concretes sharing vocals with Peter on a decidedly lo-fi, sixties baroque pop gem, that lyrically shares some innocent observations of relationships with those of fellow Swede, Jens Lekman.

Peter Björn & John Website

This past year I have been listening and dj'ing a lot of sixties and seventies soul; and one of my favorite artists has been Marlena Shaw.

Marlena successfully fused her Jazz background with the Soul, Rhythm Blues and laid back Funk of the Sixties and Seventies into some amazing recordings. Check out the two tracks here for a sample of her magic.

Discovered in 1966, she orginally recorded for the Chess Records' imprint, Cadet, and then later moved onto Bluenote and Columbia. Her stuff is hard to find in stores, but it's worth the effort.

Marlena Shaw - Liberation Conversation
Marlena Shaw - Woman of the Ghetto

After the jump is Marlena's Biography (courtesy of the discomuseum) and Discography.

Once again I am infected by an extremely catchy tune.

In this case it's the first single, Again & Again, from the new duo, The Bird and the Bee. It's a beautiful trifle of 60's French Pop and Brazilian rhythm wrapped around a jangly Indie Pop center.

There full-length debut is due at the end of this month. You can find further information about them at their MySpace page and on their soon to be relaunched website.

The Bird and the Bee - Again & Again

Sometimes you can hear so much honesty in a singer's voice or a song writer's words that no matter how awkward they are, how unconventional they sound, there is a deep and intense immediate love for them. Daniel Johnston, Jeff Magnum of Neutral Milk Hotel, and Joanna Newsom are all prime examples of this, people who draw us in deeper than the melodies their vocal chords create. Pulled in to these tiny fragile worlds like egg shells, the songs take on a quality so much bigger than the sum of their parts.

Adrian Orange (aka The Thanksgiving) is like this as well, the first moments of his voice strike you with a discomfort that eventually settles into awe. Twisted and awkward ballads push their way around your brain, asking you to decode their puzzles on the way to your heart. Expertly crafted pop songs that take you inside relationships full of teenage love, immediate and destructive.

Working with Phil Elverum has helped guide Adrian's hand well, and on Bitches is Lord you can hear the craftsmanship he's achieved while still being able to look forward to his future releases. There is a lot more to come from this young man.

Adrian Orange - While You Live

I'm Not Shy, was the first single from manufatured girl group, Frank. Created for a Channel 4 comedy/drama called Totally Frank. Oddly, they were dropped by their record label, Polydor, just five weeks after their album was released.

Imagine a brit girl group with hints of the Divinyls and Fergie. Sounds weird, but the song is enjoyable.

Frank - I'm Not Shy

Here's the band's website.

Two wonderful gems from Norway this week:

Susanna and the Magical Orchestra have released a covers record of some 80's standards, as well as some off the wall choices. Susanna's quiet voice is layered over harpsichord to re-invent these songs as dark and brooding Norweigian blues, trapping pop songs in icey cabaret prisons. Finish half a bottle of wine, and then check out her version of AC/DC's It's A Long Way To The Top.

Susanna and the Magical Orchestra - It's A Long Way To The Top

We also have Norwegian Grammy winners the White Birch. I'm thoroughly convinced that anyone who listens to the full of their album will be hooked. Combining Icelandic production values with Kings of Convenience vocal stylings, and wrapping it all up in a pop manner that invokes early Cold Play (when they were relevant), the White Birch have created what I believe to be one of the most perfect indie pop records ever.

White Birch - Seer Believer

Contributor DJ Toast has posted a new pocast. It includes songs by Peter Björn & John, Camera Obscura, The Concretes, Johnny Boy, The Lost Patrol, The Bird and the Bee, Lush, Shout Out Louds, Spearmint, Stereolab, Stars, Lush, Elastica, Throwing Muses, The Ettes, The Long Blondes, The Pipettes, Henri Fabergé and the Adorables.  It clocks in at 57 mins., 41 secs.

Weekend Without Make-Up Mix

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