Geoff's Soundtrack To My Life
Well, a brilliant idea from Miss Webster and at a very apt time too for me personally. At a time when I've just been denied a visa and the opportunity to return to work in the USA it's a chance to reflect on year's past, remember the music that defined them and move on to the next part of my life. In choosing this list I tried very hard to remember the point of what was trying to be achieved here. A soundtrack to my life. Not a list of songs that I should have been listening to but the collection of songs I was listening to. My original plan was to have the number of songs total 80 minutes which would be the equivalent of a CD full but when compiling the list I found there were songs I just couldn't leave out. I also tried to compile a list with a song from each year but I found there were a few years where I had to put more songs because each reminded me of different events during that year. I have given reasons for inclusion, some a little abstract for some songs but not all. Some of them I just don't want to go into the details of why they are here and others simply don't have a reason. I can guarantee that this list will change. No doubt I'll think of songs or change my mind about some of them but that was the idea of putting it online. I hope you enjoy the list and enjoy listening to them (you can play them through an embedded player at the bottom of the list or click here). I have started in 1991 because that is when I started listening to music in earnest at the tender age of thirteen and started associating it with my life.
1991
Teenage Fanclub - The Concept (Bandwagonesque)
Just reminds me of a walkman the size of a brick and listening to this album over and over again. I would have to rewind it each time because I didn't have "auto-reverse"!
1992
Levellers - Three Friends (Live at Glastonbury 1992)
Recorded from BBC Radio 1, it was an amazing performance all round but I just remember being totally blown away by the huge soundscape of instruments in this one song.
1993
New Order - Special (Republic)
GCSE History homework.
1994
Nirvana - Heart Shaped Box (In Utero)
First electric guitar. My mate Jon's garage. The two of us on guitar along with Mark and Tim, Greg on bass, Steve on drums. First possible band performance? It was the only song everyone knew how to play!
1995
Teenage Fanclub - Mellow Doubt (Grand Prix)
Teenage Fanclub - Neil Jung (Grand Prix)
Oasis - Digsy's Dinner (Definitely Maybe)
No comment.
1996
Upstart - Had Enough (Not previously released)
It will be on the player when I finish the recording. My favourite moment of Havant College Battle Of The Bands 1996. We won and left with fame and fortune! Actually, that's a lie. Some people in college knew who we were until the end of term and we got fifty quid for winning.
Suede - Trash (Coming Up)
Chaos. South Parade Pier. Last night at home before going to University.
Longpigs - She Said (The Sun Is Often Out)
Dancing like a madman with Mitchell during Fresher's Week with about a thousand people in a marquee all wearing the expression "who on Earth are those two idiots!?!"
The Bluetones - Putting Out Fires (Expecting To Fly)
University...
The Charlatans - One To Another (Tellin' Stories)
Indie Heaven...
1997
Primal Scream - Kowalski (Vanishing Point)
1998
Massive Attack - Teardrop (Mezzanine)
Hmmm..... If only.....
1999
Chemical Brothers - Music Response (Surrender)
Irritating the hell out of Dan with it!
2000
Coldplay - Shiver (Parachutes)
I listened to this after my Sister emailed me when she was travelling in Australia and said she'd just seen the video. Australia seemed so far away at the time and I remember thinking I'd never want to do the travelling thing. Little did I know...
2001
Ash - Shining Light (Free All Angels)
One of the greatest songs ever.
2002
Coldplay - Warning Sign (A Rush Of Blood To The Head)
Newquay. Walking along the beach in the edge of the surf. Early September. Misty rain. Awesome.
2003
Doves - Caught By The River (The Last Broadcast)
I couldn't stop listening to this album for about two years. So good.
2004
The Killers - Smile Like You Mean It (Hot Fuss)
Drunk on Mitchell's boat, singing along making a hell of a noise, substituting the words "withered hand" in at random moments, a couple of weeks before I flew to Canada and changed my life.
2005
Deftones - Bloody Cape (Deftones)
Riding the Seventh Heaven area on Blackcomb mountain on a bluebird day in a foot of fresh. Unreal.
2006
Sigur Ros - Agaetis Byrjun (Agaetis Byrjun)
Beautiful.
Angels & Airwaves - Do It For Me Now (We Don't Need To Whisper)
No comment.
2007
Imogen Heap - Hide & Seek (Speak For Yourself)
Jo Whiley played this "Changing Track" on her show one morning during the Summer when I was working at Fat Face. It was the first time I'd heard it and just loved it. Listened to it all Summer.
2008
Funeral For A Friend - Drive (Hours)
Great song. Check out the acoustic version on YouTube here.