ULTIMATE ART ROCK - AN ARTY MIX
February 12, 2009,
Written by The 405
by Christina Sanders
I am new to the 405 team, but will now be heading up the art reviews side of things, as the new head of art. So I thought, what better way to introduce myself than to create a special art themed mix tape for you all to enjoy!
1. Art Brut – Modern Art (2004)
Well, I don’t think this songs inclusion needs much explanation!
Not only are Eddie Argos’s and his gang named after an art movement (art brut is another term for outsider art) but they are singing about art too! This song is a celebration of how great it can feel when looking at a painting you love. Indeed, modern art makes me want to rock out!
2. Modern Lovers – Pablo Picasso (1976)
An ode to one of the 20th centuries greatest artists, his charm and womanising ways, "Pablo Picasso was never called an asshole". This song was produced by John Cale, who is also featured later on in the mix!
3. These New Puritans – I Want To Be Tracey Emin (2006)
I think that title says it all really. I spent a lot of time during my art a-levels and foundation really just wanting to be Tracey Emin (to be honest, I am not quite over it yet). When I first saw the title of this song, I got very excited.
4. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Art Star (2001)
Karen O screams about what it is like to be an "art star", with her gallery in New York. It makes being an artist sound like just about the coolest thing ever, which of course it is!
5. Yoko Ono – Walking On Thin Ice
(1981)
Yoko Ono is perhaps most famous her relationship with John Lennon. It is a shame; there is certainly a lot more to her than just that! She is an avant-garde artist and was very much associated with the fluxus movement in the 1960s. She has tried her hand at performance art, painting, filmmaking and indeed pop music!
6. Television Personalities – Salvador Dali’s Garden Party (1989)
It sounds like the best party ever – I mean who wouldn’t have wanted to go to Salvador’s house for a few drinks! The guest list included in this song is changed a lot when they play it live, often to include current stars at that time, previous ‘guests’ have included David Hockney, Jackson Pollock, Andy Warhol, Francis Bacon and even shamed ex-U. S President Nixon!
7. Pulp – Common People (1995_
A classic tale of the posh art-school girl, slumming it in London. It is based on a real person that Jarvis Cocker met, whilst studying at Fine Art at St Martins, apparently she was on a general fine art course, not sculpture, but that didn’t sound as good in the song.
8. David Bowie – Andy Warhol (1971)
With this song David Bowie was paying tribute to one of his greatest influences and friends, however, apparently Warhol didn’t like it when it was played to him as he thought Bowie was making fun of the way he looked with some of the lyrics!
9. Gang Of Four – I Love A Man In Uniform (Version from Return The Gift, 2005)
Now, it is quite well known that all the best bands meet at art school. And this band are one of my absolute faves, I think this song is just brilliant. Gang of four formed in 1977 when they all met at on the fine art course at Leeds Uni. They were fuelled by a punk rock spirit and shared interest in radical political theory.
10. Lou Reed and John Cale – Trouble with Classicists (1989)
This song is from a concept album, Songs For Drella, written to the two ex-Velvet Underground musicians. It was recorded in memory of their mentor Andy Warhol. Each song is about the artist. The title ‘Drella’ comes from Warhol’s nickname amongst his factory crowd, it was a cross between Dracula and Cinderella. This song details the things wrong, with more traditional styles of art
11. Laurie Anderson – Oh Superman (1981)
Laurie Anderson is a performance artist and she socked everyone when this brilliantly weird song went into the charts at number 2 after being played on the radio by John Peel. Laurie Anderson was also recently the first (and so far only) artist in residence at NASA, Last year she married Lou Reed, the ultimate art rock couple!
12. Cabaret Voltaire – Nag Nag Nag (2002)
This band took their name from a nightclub in Zurich, it was a pivotal venue for the Dada and Futurist artists of the early 20th century, many of their happenings occurred in the Cabaret Voltaire and many-a artists plan was formulated there. Cabaret Voltaire, the band also started life as Dada-inspired performance artists in 1973, before turning their attention fully to pioneering electronic music.
13. Swell Maps – H.SArt (1979)
“Do you believe in art?” asked these early post-punk innovators, I certainly do. And I hope after listening to all these arty songs, you all agree with me!
So, there you go. I hope you all like the mix, and it leaves you all feeling a little bit arty!
Lots of Love
Christina x
Download the Mixtape by clicking here!
Track list
1. Art Brut – Modern Art
2. Modern Lovers – Pablo Picasso
3. These New Puritans – I Want To Be Tracey Emin
4. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Art Star
5. Yoko Ono – Walking On Thin Ice
6. Television Personalities – Salvador Dali’s Garden Party
7. Pulp – Common People
8. David Bowie – Andy Warhol
9. Gang Of Four – I Love A Man In Uniform
10. Lou Reed and John Cale – Trouble with Classicists
11. Laurie Anderson – Oh Superman
12. Cabaret Voltaire – Nag Nag Nag
13. Swell Maps – H.SArt
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Will - 11/03/10
"is Grohls drumming really something that's gonna be the first point to come to mind?" Well, maybe not the first, but certainly one of the key points. I'm not sure about Nevermind, but I don't think I've ever had a chat about SFTD with someone who hasn't marveled over the drumming. He was never overshadowed Dave Grohl's fame peaked with Foo Fighters, not his talents. [view article]
Aaron - 11/03/10
So you're saying that one album captures Daves Grohl's talent better then the various albums he's put out with The Foo Fighters and Nirvana during their prestige? This might be the case if Grohl was the life and soul of that particular QOTSA album, but he wasn't. Granted its a good album, what would you say separates SFTD from say one of Nirvana's greatest albums Nevermind? Both have good points about them but is Grohls drumming really something that's gonna be the first point to come to mind? With The Foo's, Grohl's progression from drummer to lead ultimately forced his presence as a musician in the rock world to sky rocket. Now the attention and focus surrounded him and his band, rather then Kurt like it had been in Nirvana. How many drummers are better known then leads? None. So it makes sense to say that being in The Foo's is what allowed Grohl to come into his own as a musician and demonstrate his abilities without being overshadowed. I'd say Grohls talents peaked during The Foo's, so nothing before or after that can really be his best. The era of The Foo's was when Grohl was in his prime. [view article]
TheBooklovers - 11/03/10
I dunno Aaron. He certainly achieved more column inches and air time with The Foos, can't be denied, but as a guitarist and singer he's fairly average. Don't get me wrong, he's good and he more than gets the job done. But he's nothing special. When you get down to brass tacks though, there are very few people who have been inspired to pick up a guitar because of him. On the other hand, the vast majority of drummers around my age I know have cited him as one of their first drum crushes. Even older drummers I've met, who started playing before Grunge broke, have mentioned him as an influence. I'm always amazed that he never went into acting though. If Flea can have a side career as a walk on extra, then surely he must have been approached by now. SOMEONE needs to fill the void left by Jim Carey who isn't Jack Black. Just watch any of their videos, his comic timing is fantastic! [view article]
Will - 11/03/10
Front men generally do get the spot light. Doesn't make them better as musicians. Gotta be QOTSA [view article]
Aaron - 11/03/10
IMO It was The Foo's. As front man Grohl achieved more notoriety as a musician, much more so than when he was in Nirvana where the spotlight was heavily on Kurt Cobain. [view article]