Jo Boxers, “Just Got Lucky” (1983)
Another one from the short-lived Street Urchins Playing Northern Soul period. Well, the other one.
The Wedding Present, “Everyone Thinks He Looks Daft” (1987)
The Weddoes are up there in the list of bands I regret not getting into at the time.
James, “Rogue” (2024)
You have to be old to fully appreciate songs about getting old.
The Smiths, “(Marie’s the Name) His Latest Flame/Rusholme Ruffians” (1986)
Most of the live Smiths stuff that I’ve heard is fine: pretty close to the recorded version, with maybe a little more energy. But occasionally, they transcend the recorded version, as with this one, where they acknowledge the clear origin of “Rusholme Ruffians”, but then absolutely rip on their version of it. Spectacular.
Human Interest, “Better Press Repeat” (2024)
Sometimes I wish the algorithms would recognize that I’m a little more adventurous than they think, but then they nail my primary taste so perfectly that I forgive them.