Top 5 Tunes (2008 Best Of Part 2)

To sum up the musicals treasures that the year 2008 had given us is almost a mission impossible. That being said, each one has his own perspective of the musical journey of the past year, so I'll share the highlights through my own scope. Without further ado, here are my top five songs of 2008 and may the upcoming year will embrace us with new exciting tunes that will cause our heartbeats a change of rhythm.

Top 5 2008 tunes:

1. Hercules & Love Affair - Blind




2. My Morning Jacket - Touch me I'm going to Scream Part II




3. Jamie Lidell - Green Light



4. MGMT - Kids (Soulwax Remix)




5. Estelle Feat. Kanye West - American Boy

Werner Herzog - Into The Wild (2008 Best Of Part 1)

Werner & the beast

My first encounter with Werner Herzog films began with his Klaus Kinski flix(Aguirre: The Wrath of God, Nosferatu the Vampyre & Fitzcaralldo) that attracts my attention due to the fact that kinski seems to be in his best place when working with Herzog.

Werner & the monster

The films that Herzog and Kinski made together are amongst the best in the world and I can't write about Herzog without mentioning Kinski passionate and captivating abilities as an actor, his magnetic presence in films were enough to attract the audience. Watch any film with Klaus and you can feel his power over the screen. He was a unique artist.

Herzog & Kinski hated each other and yet at the same time loved each other. No matter how hard they tried they couldn't stop gravitating towards one another. To understand their crazy relationship just watch this amazing documentary Mein liebster Feind - Klaus Kinski (1999) made by Herzog himself as a tribute to his colleague and friend Kinski.

Now after this short introduction of Werner history I cannot open our 2008 best of discussion without sharing the great experience of watching Herzog best Documentary for 2008 "Encounters at the End of the World".

Werner Herzog’s epic “Antarctica film” ends up being less a documentary about Antarctica as it is about the humans who, for some reason or another, are living on the world’s most uninhabitable continent.

Endless Landscapes

Always the eccentric and aggressively curious filmmaker, Herzog and his cameras take us to unexpected, awe-inspiring places in and around McMurdo Station in Antarctica.

Alienated World

It’s complicated, beautiful, confounding and funny, with a refreshing dearth of answers or arguments but an unbridled and joyous sense of cinematic wonder.
The images in Herzog films hover in the rarified area between unreal and absolutely true.

The South Wall

Herzog’s off-the-wall voiceovers, combined with some truly fascinating images and interviews, make this film one of the truly singular documentaries in the modern history of the form.

Francoise Hardy / l'amitie

Friendship (l'amitie) is the name and finding music gems is our game. So here is a pure silky listening perl from the good old 60's, performed by one of the most enchanting woman on earth; Francoise Hardy.
So be carful not to fall in love...

This One's on Santa - Happy Christmas Wicked Compilation

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

Oh! You better watch out,

You better not cry,

You better not pout,

I'm telling you why:

Santa Claus is coming to town!

He's making a list,

He's checking it twice,

He's gonna find out who's naughty or nice.

Santa Claus is coming to town!

He sees you when you're sleeping,

He knows when you're awake.

He knows when you've been bad or good,

So be good for goodness sake!

So...You better watch out.....

Is it just us, or is this song creepy as hell?!

Yes, Christmas turned to be about getting presents for being good (what happened to the Jesus stuff?) but to threaten little children this way.. not very holiday spirit.

This is the reason we've decided to cook this altera-christmas wicked compilation, just a few songs to make our souls happy and our hearts warm by some holiday tunes, reminding us that Santa is real if we will only believe it. Make a wish and make it happen!

This One's on Santa \\ Compiled by DJ Picasso & Orly G

1) Greeting From The Heybridge - Mr E Kyprian
2) I Am Blessed (Wax Tailor Remix) - Nina Simone
3) Winter Woonderland - The Rhodes Kids
4) I Don't Intend To Spend Christmas Without You - Claudine Longet
5) Swinging Bells - The Mystic Monks
6) It's Christmas Time (Part 1) - James Brown
7) Winter Wonderland (Bent Remix) - Bing Crosby
8) Who Took The Merry Out of Christmas - The Staple Singers
9) Christmas Is Going To The Dogs - Eels
10) Something Big - Burt Bacharach
11) Soulful Christmas - James Brown
12) Coldcut's Christmas Break - Coldcut
13) Christmas Love - Minnie Ripperton & The Rotary Connection
14) Christmas Must Be Tonight - The Band
15) Christmas Card From A Hooker In Minneapolis - Tom Waits
16) White Christmas - Jo Stafford

Link in the comments

The Urge - The Ultimate Rare Groove Experience

"Ladies and Gentlemen.Welcome aboard Air France flight 493 bound for Milan..."

This unique album concept first saw light of day in the 1970's as a rather unique way of promoting Air France. It consisted of a classy double album, given to passengers in flight so they could'extend their holiday vacation in a musical manner.

"Please fasten your seat belt and refrain from smoking while the no smoking sign is on..."

The music was basically traditional but also quite typical of each of the flights stopover points:

Just alittle Arabian for the Middle East, a touch of soul for the states, trendy pop for Britian and so on. Under the french lable title Escale Party, these give-away discs have become to-day's collector's items , keenly sought after both for their great originality and high musical quality.

"We hope you have enjoyed the in-flight entertainment. We are now preparing to land. The cocktail bar is closed and we will soon collect your headset. Above all, we look forward to the pleasure of greeting you again very soon on one of our airline's future flights."

Links in the comments.

Music For Strange Situations

If those moments are the brightest pearls, the music is surely part of them...

There's enough, we're sure, to wish you a good listening... and more!

Mentalize the desire...and every erotic pleasure may be extended... an endless number of combinations.

After the body has been laid bare, still there is room for imagination... and the music becomes an evocative mimicry made of postures, gestures, and highly allusive erotic and... STRANGE SITUATIONS!

Links in the comments

Anger 4 Theraphy - DJ Good Music

What if the historic landing on the moon was a total fake? What if Obama were white and maccain black? What if all that Santa stuff is a conspiracey? What if there will be no evil and only good will govern? Well, don't ask me...

Straight from the depth of the pool, into our precious real estate blog comes this pure adrenaline mix tape to steer up the pace. Briniging fresh sounds to blast your speakers sky high.

So hands up to DJ Good Music for this fine list of choices.

Track List:

01 - Broken Social Scene - Horses

02 - Last Shadow Puppets - The Chamber

03 - She & Him - I Was Made For You

04 - M83 - Kim & Jessie

05 - Holy Ghost! - Hold On

06 - Cut Copy - Feel The Love

07 - Super Mal (Feat. Luciana) - Bigger Then Big

08 - Evil Nine (Feat. Aesop Rock) - Crooked

09 - Teddybears (Feat. Daddy Boastin') - Little Stereo

10 - Lil' Mama - Lip Gloss

11 - Moby - I love to Move In Here

12 - Tacey Thorn - Grand Canyon

13 - Chicks On Speed (Feat. Peaches) - We Don't Play Guitars

14 - Of Montreal - Gallery Piece

15 - Kings Of Leon - Sex On Fire

16 - Pink Floyd - Run Like Hell

17 - Stars - Midnight Coward

18 - Radiohead - Blow Out

19 - Cocosuma - The Servant

20 - Lil' Wayne (Feat. Bobby Valentino) - Mrs. Officer

21 - Raphael Saadiq - Oh Girl

22 - Margie Joseph - To Know You Is To Love You

Links in the comments

Nina Simone - Yes We Can

Imagine Lady Nina Simone singing "Feeling Good" live in the background of Barak Obama victory party, with her voice that gets in your bones. What a sight that could be.
Her voice is like unfettered honesty, a kind of truth-telling that springs forth without conscious effort but not without thorough contemplation. That is why personlly I think Obama & Nina share the same artist voice, that real and proud voice that it's roots are from mother Africa.

Straight from the white/afro house comes this massive compilation of true to the bone classics, drivin by a snappy groovy piano of the lady of steel with a lean, jazzy, funky and soulful Nina Vocal style.

So keep it real, stand up for your rights and get ready to Juice it up!

Track List:

(1) Cosi Ti Amo(2) Tell It Like It Is(3) The Pusher(4) Mr Bojangles(5) Ain't Got No -- I Got Life [alternate](6) Assignment Sequence(7) Save Me (non-LP single side)(8) Feeling Good(9) To Love Somebody(10) Funkier Than A Mosquito's Tweeter(11) My Sweet Lord(12) I Wish I Knew (How It Would Feel To Be Free)(13) Feelin' Good (Joe Claussell Remix)(14) Rags & Old Iron(15) I'm Gonna Leave You(16) Love Me Or Leave Me(17) Don't Explain

Links in the comments

Meeting Point - Sound & Vision

So many things one can say about the connection between the art of music and the art of film; From academic studies, through great soundtracks, beautiful musical moments in films, directors influenced by musicians and vice versa, from The Cinematic Orchestra to Mary Poppins and what have you (and don't get me started on the "Top 10 films about music" -or maybe we should dare this challenge sometime soon..). Among all of the above there's the personal experience of this encounter point between sound and vision; I'm talking about the magic moment that can happen either in one's head only, or as an instant link that many share at the same time - it is a true, almost irrepressible, connection between a piece of music and a piece of visual. One of those magic moments for me is the song "Porque Te Vas". When I listen to it, immediately two opposite emotions are presenting themselves: happiness and sadness, courtesy of Carlos Saura - director of Cria Cuervos (1976).

This is one of my favorite encounter points:

Reflections

Part II of the compilation was designed in cooperation of the finest chemists we found nearby our snowy volcano. Carefully measured smooth vibes and tasty beats were organized in order for you to lay back and enjoy the magic of fresh air.

"Reflections" Track List:

(01) [Gianni Marchetti] Amore in Controluce
(02) [Eels] Fresh Feelings
(03) [John Martin] Solid Air
(04) [The Bad Plus] How Deep is Your Love
(05) [Bill Bailey] Dr. Qui
(06) [Nino Ferrer] La Rua Madureira
(07) [Spanky & Our Gang] Like to Get to Know You
(08) [Donny Hathway] The Ghetto
(09) [Klaus Weiss] Don't Play That Game
(10) [O.V Wright] Let's Straighten It Out
(11) [The Blind Boys of Alabama] New Born Soul
(12) [Lee Hazlewood] Those Were The Days of Roses (Martha)
(13) [Bruce Springsteen] State Troper
(14) [Supergrass] Eon
(15) [TV on the Radio] Young Liars
(16) [Bobbie Gentry] Rainmaker
(17) [Skeewiff] Delta Dawn

Links in the comments

I've Got The Music In Me

To kick start our celebrated opening event we would like to present part #1 of our fresh compilation, compiled in our secret laboratory underneath an erupting volcano.
Juicing up the decks with some really nasty grooves and some nuggets to set you up for the next 80 minutes.

"I've Got The Music In Me" Track List:

(01) [Claudjia Barry] Love For The Sake of Love (Original Album Version)
(02) [Gonzales] Let's Ride
(03) [Giorgio Moroder] Knights In White Satin
(04) [Sonido Laser Drakar] Pontiac Firebird 82
(05) [Lindstrom & Prins Thomas] Mighty Girl
(06) [Visage] I'm Still Searching
(07) [Samim] Heater
(08) [MGMT] Kids (Soulwax Remix)
(09) [Electra] Come Inside (The Dove's Ferocious Attack Remix)
(10) [The Clash] Train in Vain
(11) [Thelma Houston] I've Got The Music in Me
(12) [Galactic] Fanfare
(13) [Crazy P] Can't Get Down
(14) [Off the Record] Off the Record (Skit)
(15) [Ricchi e Poveri] Sara Perche Ti Amo
(16) [David Bowie] Sound & Vision
(17) [The Rolling Stones] Sympathy For The Devil (Fatboy Slim Radio Mix)
(18) [Ursula Rucker & Lil Louie V] Release
(19) [Joubert Singers] Stand On The Word (Larry Levan Mix - Full Version)

Links in the comments

Ready.. Set.. PLAY!

We're honored and thrilled to announce the grand opening of the blog "That's What Friends are For". This will be the place for us to shout our insignificant manifests and hope that someone will listen.
We will use it as a platform for sharing our greatest love of all - music. Musical ventures, compilations, new excitements, nostalgic embarrassments and - beware - just mumbling.

Visit us and don't forget to let your voice be heard too, we love it and we love you.

We'll start with our latest hot-from-the-oven 2cd compilation, you'll find it on the next post..

Rock on!