My Bloody Valentine - Strawberry Wine

One of my favorite MBV song! Taken from the Ecstacy And Wine album, this melodic, jangly pop guitar song will surely uplift your mood everytime you hear it. Although MBV has been known as feedback/distortion-oriented shoegazers, you will discover their versatility in this single. To Kevin Shields, Bilinda Butcher and the rest of the gang, a job well done!

Pulp

When you think of 90s Britpop rivalry, three bands come to mind: Blur, Oasis and Pulp. Although Pulp has been around for more than a decade since they've been recognized commercially, many people think they are 90s band. Their first single, Masters Of The Universe, was released in 1982.

The Babies 12" on the picture is their first release of the particular song. This was released under the indie label Gift in 1992. They've re-released it with a slightly different arrangement as part of their 1994 album His 'n' Hers. Personally, the original version is better than the later. It's more raw and edgy.

The picture-sleeved Motiv 8 mix of both Common People and Disco 2000 are very hard to find. They've made very limited copy of those. That solves the mystery why the promo-sleeve versions are the ones circulating on record stores.

On pictures:

1. Babies
2. Common People (Motiv 8 Mix)
2. Disco 2000 (Motiv 8 Discoid Mix)

The Dawn - Enveloped Ideas (Extended Remix)

A highly acclaimed new wave band from the Philippines. The Dawn had their first taste of commercial success during the late eighties with the song Enveloped Ideas, which considered by many filipinos a new wave anthem. They continued their forever long career, which I think the longest any band in the Philippines could ever have, up to this day...I believe. Are they still active? Correct me if I'm wrong.

[GET SAMPLE AUDIO HERE]

The Apartments - The Shyest Time

Another track taken from one of my favorite teenage eighties flick "Some Kind Of Wonderful". This is produced by Stephen Hague, known for producing New Order, Orchestral Manouevres In The Dark and Pet Shop Boys.

The Sweetest Ache - Jaguar

This band remind me so much of the early My Bloody Valentine (the Ecstacy And Wine days). This album is released under Sarah Records, a label that needs no introduction for the fans of indiepop, twee and jangle pop music. If you like Secret Shine, early MBV and Field Mice, this album is for you!

[GET SAMPLE AUDIO HERE]

Red Guitars

They sound like Fantastic Something.

On pictures:

1. America And Me
2. National Avenue

The Big Dish

Although they make good music, they are not as big as their name sounds. They've released quite a few singles but these two, for me, are the ones that really stand out.

On pictures:

1. Prospect Street
2. Big New Beginning

[GET SAMPLE AUDIO HERE]

Aztec Camera

Another fine neo-acoustic band of the eighties! Frontman Roddy Frame turned solo after the band's split-up in the late eighties.

On pictures:

1. Working In A Goldmine
2. Walk Out To Winter (Extended Version)
3. Still On Fire
4. Somewhere In My Heart (Remix)
5. Oblivious
6. All I Need Is Everything (Remix)

The Chameleons UK - Tears

Hailed from the great city of Manchester, home of some of the greatest bands in the history of Rock n' Roll (The Stone Roses, Joy Division, New Order, The Smiths, James, Oasis and Happy Mondays), this band is considered one of the pioneers of post-punk music. The song Tears comes in two version, the regular and the acoustic, both extremely tasteful!

The Sun And The Moon - The Speed Of Life

Got this record during our trip to Manchester in the fall of 2008. Another band of Mark Burgess of The Chameleons UK. The style is so similar to The Chameleons UK so if you're a fan of Mark Burgess you should definitely check this out!

[GET SAMPLE AUDIO HERE]

The Sound

One of post-punk best. If you love post-punk artists like The Chameleons UK, The Wake and Sad Lovers and Giants I highly recommend getting their albums. The band split up after releasing few albums and the lead vocal, Adrian Borland, went solo. You can find their album's re-releases at http://www.redsunrecords.com.

On pictures:

1. Sense Of Purpose (What Are We Going To Do)
2. One Thousand Reasons
3. Heads And Hearts

The Essence

This is one of my favorite band from Midnight Music (record label of Sad Lovers And Giants and Snake Corps). If you hear them the first time you will easily mistaken them from The Cure. Hans voice is very similar to Robert Smith. You can find their album's re-releases at http://www.redsunrecords.com.

On pictures:

1. The Cat
2. Only For You
3. A Mirage

[GET SAMPLE AUDIO HERE]

Gangway - My Girl And Me

If you like Twee music you'll love this single. Their music is kinda similar to Blueboy.

[GET SAMPLE AUDIO HERE]

The Flatmates - Shimmer

Another great artist from one of my favorite record label, Subway Organization!

[GET SAMPLE AUDIO HERE]

Shop Assistants - I Don't Wanna Be Friends With You

If you like Motorcycle Boy, The Primitives and The Flatmates you'll definitely love this!

[GET SAMPLE AUDIO HERE]

Voice Of America - I Will Tell

This is the original version and the original release of VOA's I Will Tell. It was re-released by Virgin in 1988 as an extended version with b-side Seiku. Both the original and the extended are very hard to find.

[GET SAMPLE AUDIO HERE]

Furniture - Brilliant Mind (Extended Mix)

Another underrated band from the eighties. The song "Brilliant Mind" was featured in the soundtrack "Some Kind Of Wonderful".

[GET SAMPLE AUDIO HERE]

Mighty Mighty

Pride of Birmingham! They've released an album containing all their singles and B-Sides under the now defunct label Vinyl Japan.

On pictures:

1. Throwaway
2. One Way
3. Is There Anyone Out There
4. Built Like A Car

[GET SAMPLE AUDIO HERE]

The Beloved - A Hundred Words

This is the period when The Beloved kick ass. In the early 80s, the band were more guitar-oriented. They later turned into more electronic music. If you want to know more about their music during their guitar heydays I recommend getting the "Where It Is" album. Good luck though, the last time I saw this CD was 2 years ago and it cost more than $100.00!

[GET SAMPLE AUDIO HERE]

A House - I'll Always Be Grateful

Classic!

One Thousand Violins

This is one of my favorite C86, guitarpop, neo-acoustic, indie-pop, twee ( however you want to categorize it) . The single "If Only Words" is my favorite. One of the band member later formed The Dylans.

1. Please Don't Sandblast My House
2. If Only Words
3. If I Were A Bullet
4. Halcyon Days
5. All Aboard The Love Mobile

Saint Etienne

The "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" French pressing got the best of both worlds. The USA pressing has the Andy Weatherhall remix but has poor quality. The UK pressing has the AW remix but doesn't come in picture sleeve, the one that do is the regular version. The French pressing is the only pressing that has the AW remix, the picture sleeve and the superb quality, bar none!

On pictures:

1. Only Love Can Break Your Heart
2. Nothing Can Stop Us
3. Kiss And Makeup

The Room - New Dreams For Old

This is Dave Jackson's pre-Benny Profane band. They've released 3 re-released album under LTM Records in early 2000. You might still get some at Tweekittens.com if you're lucky.

[GET SAMPLE AUDIO HERE]

Motorcycle Boy

A very melodic guitar pop from the ashes of the Shop Assistants.

On pictures:

1. Big Rock Candy Mountain (Extended Mix)
2. Trying To Be Kind (Velocity Dance Mix)

[GET SAMPLE AUDIO HERE]

Desert Wolves

If you're in to Wild Swans, Care and Treebound Story this band will entice your music palette!

On pictures:

1. Speak To Me Rochelle
2. Love Scattered Lives