Category Archives: 17 Seconds Blog

Albums of the year 2016

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No, this isn’t a misspelling.

Despite doing my annual Festive Fifty tracks at the end of last year, I never published my albums of the year list. For those that might care – and you’ve read this far – there were a handful of reasons for this.

Firstly, that I was trying to agree on an order. The final two choices I couldn’t quite make up my mind about. Secondly, there were a couple of albums I wanted to hear before I did the list that for one reason or another I hadn’t heard then. And as life changes, sometimes it’s just not possible to hear fifty albums well enough to rank them in order.

So, with that in mind, I’ve put together a top ten from last year, with a number that can be considered to have been worthy runners-up.

  1. David Bowie Blackstar
  2. Michael Kiwanuka Love And Hate
  3. K Fellowship (AKA Kate Bush) Before The Dawn
  4. Skepta Konichiwa
  5. Radiohead A Moon Shaped Pool
  6. Kano Made In the Manor
  7. PJ Harvey The Hope Six Demolition Project
  8. Mogwai Atomic
  9. Frank Ocean Blonde
  10. Beyoncé Lemonade

…and worthy runners-up (in no particular order)

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds Skeleton Tree

Leonard Cohen You Want It Darker

Shirley Collins Lodestar

Dexys Let the Record Show: Dexys Do Irish And Country Soul

Kristin Hersh Wyatt At The Coyote Palace

Modern Studies Swell To Great 

Emma Pollock In Search Of Harperfield

Underworld Barbara, Barbara We Face A Shining Future

Scott Walker The Childhood Of A Leader

Wedding Present Going, Going…

Lest we forget…

2015 Bjork Vulnicura

2014 Lisa Gerrard Twilight Kingdom

2013 Dead Flowers Midnight At The Wheel Club 

2012 Grimes Genesis

2011 PJ Harvey Let England Shake

2010 DeLorean Subiza

2009 Broken Records Until The Earth Begins To Part

2008 Cave Singers Invitation Songs

2007 Burial Untrue

2006 Camera Obscura Let’s Get Out Of This Country

 

17 Seconds Festive Fifty 2017

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  1. Young Fathers ‘Only God Knows.’
  2. Lana Del Rey ‘Love.’
  3. Stormzy ‘Big For Your Boots.’
  4. Meursault ‘Klopfgeist.’
  5. Deerhoof feat Jenn Wasner ‘I Will Spite Survive.’
  6. Dave ‘Question Time.’
  7. Breeders ‘Wait In The Car.’
  8. Siobhan Wilson ‘Whatever Helps.’
  9. Playing House ‘Jelly Legs.’
  10. Attic Choir ‘shHAarp.’
  11. National ‘The System Only Dreams In Total Darkness.’
  12. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds ‘Holy Mountain.’
  13. Jammz ‘Oh Please.’
  14. Meursault ‘I Will Kill Again.’
  15. Mogwai ‘Party In The Dark.’
  16. Belle & Sebastian ‘I’ll Be Your Pilot.’
  17. Wolf Alice ‘Yuk Foo.’
  18. Mark Lanegan ‘Nocturne.’
  19. Loyle Carner ‘No CD.’
  20. Go! Team ‘Semicircle Song.’
  21. Cigarettes After Sex ‘K.’
  22. Sparks ‘Edith Piaf (Said It Better).’
  23. U.S. Girls ‘Mad As Hell.’
  24. Future Islands ‘Ran.’
  25. Erasure ‘Love You To The Sky.’
  26. Mogwai ‘Coolverine.’
  27. LCD Soundsystem ‘Call The Police.’
  28. Arcade Fire ‘Everything Now.’
  29. Alvvays ‘In Undertow.’
  30. Ice Cube ‘Good Cop, Bad Cop.’
  31. Lana Del Rey featuring The Weeknd ‘Lust For Life.’
  32. Lorde ‘Green Light.’
  33. Gold Filter ‘Dust.’
  34. Chilly Gonzalez & Jarvis Cocker ‘Tearjerker.’
  35. LCD Soundsystem ‘American Dream.’
  36. Spook School ‘Less Than Perfect.’
  37. Parcels ‘Overnight.’
  38. Deerhoof featuring Awkwafina ‘Your Dystopic Creation Doesn’t Fear You.’
  39. Belle & Sebastian ‘We Were Beautiful.’
  40. Cigarettes After Sex ‘Each Time You Fall In Love.’
  41. London Grammar ‘Rooting For You.’
  42. Big Shaq ‘Man’s Not Hot.’
  43. Morrissey ‘Jacky’s Only Happy When She’s On the Stage.’
  44. Young Fathers ‘Lord.’
  45. Jesus & Mary Chain ‘Amputation.’
  46. Pale Honey ‘Why Do I Always Feel This Way?’
  47. Alvvays ‘Dreams Tonite.’
  48. Depeche Mode ‘Where The Revolution?’
  49. Pale Waves ‘There’s A Honey.’
  50. Migos featuring Lil Uzi Vert ‘Bad And Boujee.’

Lest we forget

2016 Christine and the Queens ‘Tilted.’

2015 Courtney Barnett ‘Pedestrian At Best.’

2014 St. Vincent ‘Digital Witness.’

2013 Daft Punk ‘Get Lucky.’

2012 Grimes ‘Genesis.’ 

2011 Hiatus featuring Linton Kwesi Johnson ‘Insurrection.’

2010 eagleowl ‘No Conjunction.’

2009 Peter Parker ‘Swallow the Rockets.’

2008 Wedding Present ‘The Trouble With Men.’

2007 Emma Pollock ‘Adrenaline.’

2006 Long Blondes ‘Weekend Without Make-Up.’

 

Back on the streets special

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Michael Kiwanuka

This is, of course, a slight joke. However, as I finally seem to have resolved technical difficulties with the blog, even if health problems still aren’t quite resolved, it feels like things are up and running again.

So, a few pieces I wrote over the summer are on God Is In The TV, including album reviews for Michael Kiwanuka (above)’s Love and Hate, Scott Walker’s Childhood of a Leader soundtrack and Frank Ocean’s Blonde.

I’ve got numerous album reviews I want to write (including for New Model Army and the Wedding Present) and on a completely different sort of music tip again, I’ve also been enjoying a lot of Grime of late too, including albums from Giggs, Skepta and Kano. The latter has been responsible for my favourite track of late ‘T-shirt weather in the Manor’ from his brilliant album Made In The Manor.

Do not adjust your set

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Due to router problems, I am currently unable to post.

I will be back online soon, with my now traditional Christmas postings, an interview with the legendary Steve Barron (director of some of the most legendary ’80s music videos), and my end of year charts…

Watch this space

17 Seconds’ Festive Fifty 2013

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Yup, the moment you’ve been waiting for…my favourite fifty tracks of 2013

_67142572_daftpunk

1. Daft Punk ‘Get Lucky.’
2. Mogwai ‘What Are They Doing In Heaven Today?’
3. Chvrches ‘The Mother We Share.’
4. Disclosure featuring AlunaGeorge ‘White Noise.’
5. Arctic Monkeys ‘Why Do You Only Call Me When You’re High?’
6. David Bowie ‘Where Are They Now?’
7. Haim ‘Save Me.’
8. Withered Hand ‘Black Tambourine.’
9. Steve Mason ‘Come To Me.’
10.Last Battle ‘Perfecting The Art Of Saying Nothing.’
11.Dead Flowers ‘Make It Bright.’
12.Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds ‘Jubilee Street.’
13.Chvrches ‘Recover.’
14.National ‘Fireproof.’
15.Euros Childs ‘Trick Of The Mind.’
16.Girl Called Johnny ‘Heaven Knows.’
17.Suede ‘Barriers.’
18.Tegan & Sara ‘Closer.’
19.Savages ‘She Will.’
20.Primal Scream ‘2013.’
21.M.I.A. ‘Bring The Noize.’
22.Lorde ‘Royals.’
23.Sparrow and the Workshop ‘The Faster You Spin.’
24.Laura Mvula ‘Green Garden.’
25.Yeah Yeah Yeahs ‘Sacrilege.’
26.Parquet Courts ‘N Dakota.’
27.Daft Punk ‘Instant Crush.’
28.Crocodiles ‘She Splits Me Up.’
29.Joanna Gruesome ‘Sugar Crush.’
30.Prince ‘Breakfast Can Wait.’
31.Laura Mvula ‘Morning Dew.’
32.New Model Army ‘Horsemen.’
33.Foals ‘Late Night.’
34.Dead Flowers ‘The Beach.’
35.Mark Lanegan ‘Solitaire.’
36.Arcade Fire ‘Reflektor.’
37.Teleman ‘Cristina.’
38.Parquet Courts ‘Stoned and Starving.’
39.Those Darlins’ Oh God.’
40.Fall ‘Sir William Wray.’
41.Anna Calvi ‘Suddenly.’
42.Depeche Mode ‘Soothe My Soul.’
43.Black Sabbath ‘God Is Dead?’
44.Nadine Shah ‘To Be A Young Man.’
45.Pixies ‘Indie Cindy.’
46.Greek Street Band ‘Harbour This Love.’
47.Mark Lanegan ‘You Only Live Twice.’
48.Luke Haines ‘The Angel Of The North.’
49.Prince ‘Screwdriver.’
50.Franz Ferdinand ‘Right Action.’

There will, no doubt be the usual moans: ‘All white blokes with guitars.’ ‘No women.’ ‘All Obscure stuff.’ ‘No support given to the Scottish music scene.’ Not true, and at the end of the day, these are my favourite tracks that were released this year (even if there may be a couple that came out last year but qualify because they appeared on the parent album this year). It isn’t supposed to be hip, or post-modern.

Lest we forget: those previous 17 Seconds Festive 50 winners…
2012 Grimes ‘Genesis.’
2011 Hiatus featuring Linton Kwesi Johnson ‘Insurrection.’
2010 eagleowl ‘No Conjunction.’
2009 Peter Parker ‘Swallow The Rocket.’
2008 Wedding Present ‘The Trouble With Men.’
2007 Emma Pollock ‘Adrenaline.’
2006 Long Blondes ‘Weekend Without Make Up.’

17 Seconds is 7!

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Ed 2011

Yours truly in 2011

Well, who would have thought it?

17 Seconds is seven years old. And whilst I’m not always able to write every day, it’s a pleasure to do it as it still gives me the chance to do two things I still really enjoy: going on about music and writing.

And that’s lead to me writing for several online publications, being able to interview bands, get sent a ridiculous amount of music, be a judge for the Glastonbury unsigned competition, present a show on the local student radio, put on shows…if someone had told me when I was twenty I’d get to do this, I would have been thrilled. But I still am.

I still struggle with technology, and wish I was more savvy with stuff. But thanks to those of you who read, link, comment or whatever. Particularly my wife, and my Parents, but many more of you.

So for today, here’s seven tracks I love. Enjoy…

The Fat Lady Sings -‘Drunkard Logic.’ mp3 LINK REMOVED

Captain Beefheart -‘Ice Cream For Crow.’ mp3 LINK REMOVED

Emmylou Harris -‘Cattle Call.’ mp3 LINK REMOVED

Arctic Monkeys -‘Leave Before The Lights Come On.’ mp3 LINK REMOVED

Gil Scott-Heron ‘The Revolution Will Not Be Televised.’ mp3 LINK REMOVED

Junior Murvin -‘Police & Thieves.’ mp3 LINK REMOVED

Young Marble Giants -‘Final Day.’ mp3 LINK REMOVED

17 Seconds Festive Fifty 2012

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grimes

1. Grimes ‘Genesis.’
2. King Creosote ‘Ankle Shackles.’
3. Bobby Womack ‘Please Forgive My Heart.’
4. Blur ‘Under The Westway.’
5. Burial ‘Kindred.’
6. Frank Ocean ‘Pyramids.’
7. Bat For Lashes ‘Laura.’
8. Carter Damm ‘Clowning.’
9. Cat Power ‘Ruin.’
10.Antony & the Johnsons ‘Cut The World.’
11.Miniature Dinosaurs ‘Next Of Kin.’
12.Last Battle ‘The Crunching.’
13.Twin Shadow ‘Five Seconds.’
14.Liars ‘No.1 Against The Rush.’
15.Meursault ‘Flittin’.’
16.Mark Lanegan Band ‘The Gravedigger’s Song.’
17.Withered Hand ‘It’s A Wonderful Lie.’
18.Jack White ‘Sixteen Saltines.’
19.Last Battle ‘Hope Is Gold.’
20.Aggi Doom ‘Bring Me The Head.’
21.Burial ‘The Loner.’
22.Blur ‘The Puritan.’
23.Hiva Oa ‘Badger.’
24.First Aid Kit ‘Emmylou.’
25.Miniature Dinosaurs ‘Lemonade.’
26.Frightened Rabbit ‘State Hospital.’
27.Shy & DRS featuring Sandi Thom ‘The Love Is Gone.’
28.Spiritualized ‘Hey Jane.’
29.Stanley Odd ‘Get Out Ma Headspace.’
30.Cancel The Astronauts ‘I Sold My Soul (And This Is All I Got)’
31.King Creosote ‘Doubles Underneath.’
32.Withered Hand ‘Inbetweens.’
33.Wedding Present ‘You Jane.’
34.Palma Violets ‘Best Of Friends.’
35.Plan B ‘Ill Manors.’
36.Spook School ‘Here We Go.’
37.Vaccines ‘Teenage Icon.’
38.Scott Walker ‘Epizootics!’
39.Soap&Skin ‘Wonder.’
40.Adele ‘Skyfall.’
41.Dead Can Dance ‘Children Of The Sun.’
42.Burial ‘Ashtray Wasp.’
43.RM Hubbert ‘Car Song.’
44.Flaming Lips featuring Erykah Badu ‘The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face.’
45.Jesus, Baby! ‘the Caterpillar Tango.’
46.King Creosote ‘On The Night Of The Bonfire.’
47.M.I.A. ‘Bad Girls.’
48.Cornershop ‘What Did The Hippie Have In His Bag?’
49.Spook School ‘Cameraman.’
50.Michael Kiwanuka ‘Home Again.’

Cue the usual criticisms:

Why aren’t there any women in the list?
I’m sure that Grimes, Bat For Lashes, Cat Power, M.I.A., Adele, Soap&Skin, First Aid Kit, to say nothing of the female members of Spook School, Aggi Doom and Carter Damm are intrigued that they aren’t female enough for you.

Why is it all white people with guitars?
Er, really? Michael Kiwanuka, M.I.A, Erykah Badu, Frank Ocean and Bobby Womack, amongst others might have something to say about that.

Why do you never include any Scottish artists?
See no.s 2, 8, 11, 12, 15, 17, 19, 20, 23, 25, 26, 27, 29-32, 36, 43, 45, 46, 49…

Why aren’t Grizzly Bear in there?
Because they don’t do anything for me. Neither do the XX, before you ask.

How dare you include Adele?
How dare you not include her? The sole thing to qualify an entry for this list is that it has come out this year. Not how cool does some fashion nazi think they are.

The hipster blogs lists don’t look anything like this.

Good.

Albums to follow soon…

Happy Birthday to…the blog!

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Yup, it is six years since I made my first awkward forays into the world of blogging.

cake
Since then, there have been gig nights, the label and records downloads and CDs, DJing, interviews and lots of fun and stress as a result.

In the last year I’ve even been able to interview (amongst others) Mark Stewart of The Pop Group, Bwani Junction, The Raincoats, Dweezil Zappa and Roy Harper. Sure there’s a list as long as your arm of people I’d love to interview, but I think if someone had told me six years ago when I started all this that I’d get to do this, I wouldn’t have dared believe them.

and in that time, I’ve married the wonderful Mrs. 17 Seconds (we celebrated our fifth wedding anniversary yesterday) and welcomes our son Master 17 Seconds into the world too.

You may have noticed that there tends to be fewer mp3s than there used to be. Like many blogs, I have come increasingly under fire from sinitser organisations who do not reply to my emails (nevermind take notice of the disclaimers), and on many occasions had links removed that I actually have the music to under licence!

Anyway, thanks to those of you still reading -and it still gives me pleasure. Feedback is allways nice, btw, boys and girls 😉

Coming up on 17 Seconds

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jackson-pollock-me

There’s a million and one posts I need to write and there’s the little matter of the end of year lists (albums and tracks) and next year’s tips.

Just to let you know there are interviews to write up from The Twilight Sad, We Were Promised Jetpacks and Jai McDowell; live review of Zappa Plays Zappa and come Sunday, I will start my annual Christmas posts as well, where I post various Christmas-related music.

I’ve heard over 350 albums this year, but I’d love to know what you think I should be including (or not). And if there’s Christmas music you think should be apppearing here.

This is not a Christmas related track, but I thought it went well with this (very brief) post:

Teenage Fanclub -‘December.’ mp3

This has been removed by a company who keep approaching my file provider rather than coming to me. Ironic to see that it is supposedly endorsed by record companies who are frequently trying to get me to feature stuff.

update

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Still having problems.

For some reason, it is impossible to upload files or pictures at the moment.

There will be more music and much more besides very soon.

In the meantime, check out the links down the side.