2013 Festive 50 Countdown Pt. 1 #50 - 26! Show tracks for Sat. Dec. 28/13

It all comes to this, the year end countdown so big it takes two shows to air. Tonight the 2013 Festive 50 begins with #50-26.
We open the show with my personal single of the year from Childhood. With time left over at the end we featured a handful of other notable tracks from the year.

childhood - solemn skies
-----
The 2013 Festive 50 Part 1 #50-26
#50 - lola colt - i get high if you get high
#49 - drenge - bloodsports
#48 - the shinies - boxing day
#47 - the kvb - lines
-----
#46 - king krule - baby blue
#45 - temple songs - i can't look after you
#44 - loom - i get a taste
#43 - the wolfhounds - cheer up
#42 - teleman - steam train girl
-----
#41 - young knives - we could be blood
#40 - london grammar - wasting my young years
#39 - drop out venus - death is screaming
#38 - glasvegas - if
#37 - yuck - memorial fields
-----
#36 - no ceremony/// - heartbreaker
#35 - money - hold me forever
#34 - wolf alice - she
#33 - history of apple pie - you're so cool
-----
#32 - savages - waiting for a sign
#31 - candy says - favourite flavour
#30 - vuvuvultures - deaf epic
#29 - chvrches - recover
#28 - theme park - jamaica
-----
#27 - eagulls - nerve endings
#26 - manic street preachers - anthem for a lost cause

notable tracks for 2013

little boots - shake
the family bizarre - freeka
b.e.f. - didn't i blow your mind this time feat. green gartside
-----
adding machine - ships to sink
kobadelta - underestimation
-----
ellery james roberts - kerou's lament

Festive 50 Part One
Other Notable Tracks Part Two

Monthly Indiessential chart for December 2013

The Best Of The British Indie/Alternative Scene

1. (NEVER STOP) HATING YOU ... The Manhattan Love Suicides (Squirrel)
2. NOBODY THERE / NEED YOU AROUND ... Veronica Falls (Beachy Head Recordings)
3. THE BASTARD BEAT EP ... Casual Sex (We Can Still Picnic)
4. M + D = 1(8) EP ... ChameloensVox (Blue Apple Music)
5. JOIN THE DOTS (LP) ... Toy (Heavenly Recordings)
6. MORE POWER TO LIVE ... Hatcham Social (O Genesis)
7. TOUGH LUCK / OPAQUE ... Eagulls (Partisan)
8. ENVY ... Breton (Believe Recordings)
9. ROOM WITH A VIEW ... Jubilee Courts (Stalkers Records)
10. A SUN FULL AND DROWNING (LP) ... Grass House (Marshal Teller)
11. DEEP WOUND ... Swervedriver (DistroKid.com)
12. LIGHTS (LP) ... The Fauns (Invada)
13. THE HIGHS AND LOWS ... Neils Children (Seventh Crow Records)
14. DRIPPING DOWN ... East India Youth (Stolen)
15. GOOD FOR ME / GET AWAY ... Circa Waves (Transgressive)
16. JACKSON ... Lola Colt (Black Tigress Records)
17. RUNAROUND ... The Fireworks (Shelflife Records)
18. CARRY ME ... Bombay Bicycle Club (Uni/Island)
19. FROM THE SEA TO THE LAND BEYOND (LP) ... British Sea Power (Rough Trade)
20. ALIENATION EP ... Morning Parade (SO Recordings)

Compiled from playlists, listener requests and dj input for December 2013

MY TOP 30 SONGS FOR 2013

This ended up being more for artists that didn't make the albums list. This includes singles, album tracks, b-sides, free downloads, etc.
I saw no point in having the albums and singles list looking identical.

1. Childhood - Solemn Skies
2. Temples - Colours To Life
3. Telegram - Follow
4. Veronica Falls - Nobody There
5. Daft Punk - Get Lucky
6. Is Tropical - Dancing Anymore
7. Casual Sex - Stroh 80
8. Peace - Wraith
9. Disclosure feat AlunaGeorge - White Noise
10. The Family Bizarre - Freeka
11. Pulp Vs Soulwax - After You
12. Chvrches - The Mother We Share
13. Drop Out Venus - Death Is Screaming

14. Eagulls - Nerve Endings
15. Arcade Fire - Reflektor
16. Camera Obscura - Do It Again
17. Ellery James Roberts - Kerou's Lament
18. Little Boots - Shake
19. Arctic Monkeys - Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?
20. Adding Machine - Ships To Sink
21. Kobadelta - Underestimation
22. London Grammar – Wasting My Young Years
23. Romare - Your Love (You Give Me Fever)
24. Loom - I Get A Taste
25. East India Youth - Heaven, How Long
26. Drenge - Bloodsports
27. Clear - America
28. Lola Colt - I Get High If You Get High
29. Dark Bells - Want
30. B.E.F. - Didn't I Blow Your Mind This Time (feat. Green Gartside)

MY TOP 50 ALBUMS FOR 2013

As the Festive 50 approaches for the show I figured I let you know what my personal albums and singles are for the year. I didn't think I would be able to pick this many albums. But as I thought about what albums I really loved this year the list grew. This isn't about being obscure or being an indie snob, just about what albums I played over and over again throughout the year. I'm sure there will be some titles that you might not know and some might make you say "Really?" but that's what year end lists are all about. I'd love to know yours as well, comment or leave links. The singles list will follow in another post.

01. Silence Yourself by Savages

02. The Next Day by David Bowie
03. We Are The 21st Century Ambassadors Of Peace & Magic by Foxygen
04. Psychic by Darkside
05. MBV by My Bloody Valentine
06. Pearl Mystic by Hookworms
07. The Messenger by Johnny Marr
08. Bloodsports by Suede
09. No Ceremony by No Ceremony///
10. Settle by Disclosure
11. Slow Focus by Fuck Buttons
12. 6 Feet Beneath The Moon by King Krule
13. Grin by Traams
14. Right Thoughts Right Words Right Action by Franz Ferdinand
15. More Light by Primal Scream
16. Light Up Gold by Parquet Courts
17. Reflektor by Arcade Fire
18. Performance by Outfit
19. Join The Dots by Toy
20. Comfort by Maya Jane Coles
21. Waiting For Something To Happen by Veronica Falls

22. 180 by Palma Violets
23. Holy Fire by Foals
24. AM by Arctic Monkeys
25. Later... When The TV Turns To Static by Glasvegas
26. Understated by Edwyn Collins
27. Blackbird by Fat Freddy's Drop
28. Mas Fiestas Con El Grupo by Vision Fortune
29. Push The Sky Away by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
30. Overgrown by James Blake
31. Machineries Of Joy by British Sea Power
32. Dimly Lit by Neils Children
33. Body Music by Alunageorge
34. Shadow Of Heaven by Money
35. Sick Octave by Young Knives
36. You're Nothing by Iceage
37. Comedown Machine by The Strokes
38. If You Wait by London Grammar
39. Back To Land by Wooden Shjips

40. Electric Lady by Janelle Monáe
41. In Love by Peace
42. Ultramarine by Young Galaxy
43. Immaterial Visions by The KVB
44. Change Becomes Us by Wire
45. Bad Blood by Bastille
46. Folly by Kitchens Of Distinction
47. To The Happy Few by Medicine
48. Static by Cults
49. Revolutionary Suicide by Julian Cope
50. Soft Will by Smith Westerns

Christmas Wrapping! Show tracks for Sat. Dec. 21/13

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all our families, friends and listeners!
Next week the 2013 Festive 50 kicks off with #50 - 26!

futureheads - christmas was better in the 80s
world of twist - this too shall pass away
-----
girl one and the grease guns - jessica 6
a history of popular signs - western wind
summer camp - christmas wrapping
saint etienne - when i was seventeen (el perro del mar remix)
-----
orbital - christmas chime
[strangers] - london lights
lvls - young & cruel
bastille - of the night
-----
pete williams - interview pt 1
pete williams - black
pete williams - interview pt 2
pete williams - keaton's walk
the bureau - let him have it
dexy's midnight runners - respect
gang of four - what we all want
-----
younghusband - i don't intend to spend christmas without you
swim deep - sycamore
peace - last christmas (wham! cover)
mark morriss - this is the lie (and that's the truth)
-----
beats international - in the ghetto
stiff little fingers - strummerville

Joe Strummer Day Opening Show - His Influences
the rolling stones not fade away
chuck berry - sweet little rock 'n' roller
little richard - kansas city/hey hey hey
screamin' jay hawkins - frenzy
captain beefheart - frownland
john mayall's blues breakers - key to love
-----
roy orbison - the clown
woody guthrie - don't you push me down
eddie cochran - twenty flight rock
beach boys - do it again (early version)
junior murvin - police & thieves
bob marley - redemption song

Due to building problems (electrical) the show does not start until 10:20pm.
Part One
Part Two

From The Sea To The Land Beyond! Show tracks for Sat. Dec. 14/13

Only one regular show remains until the annual Festive 50 countdown. The countdown SO big it takes two shows to complete. The first part, #50-26, will air Sat. Dec. 28, 2013 and the second part, #25-1 will air Sat. Jan. 4, 2014. See who had a big year on Cowboys & Indies. Who will be #1?
Next week, in the last part of the show, starting at midnight we will open the proceedings for the annual Joe Strummer Day here at CJAM. For 30 minutes we will look at Joe Strummer's musical influences as well as highlight the special programming for the day on CJAM.

the heartbreaks - christmas (baby please come home)
fanfarlo - 'til I die
-----
swervedriver - deep wound
swervedriver - dub wound
mazes - notes between f & e
the night jars - maya
the ravens - let sleeping dogs lie (demo)
-----
maximo park - leave this island
kaiser chiefs - misery company
cinerama - i wake up screaming
climbing boys - bone house
-----
london grammar - nightcall (lg re-edit)
emika - wicked game
rosie lowe - right thing
space monkeys - only the good die young
-----
lp session - the fauns "lights"
the fauns - ease down
the fauns - 4am
the fauns - let's go
british sea power - from the sea to the land beyond
grass house - a thousand generators
-----
pete williams - reconsider this
bombay bicycle club - it's alright now
jimi goodwin - oh! whiskey
paradise - pray easy
tropic of youth - you
-----
menace beach - fortune teller
manhattan love suicides - (never stop) hating you
the black tambourines - blackout
slowgun - next time
two skies - stars
-----
stranglers - something better change
hookworms - what we talk about

Again and again or for the first time!
Part One
Part Two

Up The Hill And Down The Slope! Show tracks for Sat. Dec. 7/13

Of course, the main news of the week was Nelson Mandela passing away at age 95. A hero to most including musicians, many of whom wrote songs about him and his life struggles for peace and equality for all. We open the show in honour of his memory with 2 songs written during his time in jail in South Africa. One may be the ultimate "struggle song" by Special AKA. The other, by Simple Minds, was written for his 70th birthday celebration and is in my opinion one of the most beautiful songs musically that they wrote. RIP Nelson Mandela


simple minds - mandela day
special a.k.a. - free nelson mandela
-----
the manhattan love suicides - (never stop) hating you
primal scream - goodbye johnny
arctic monkeys - you're so dark
lola colt - jackson
jake bugg - what doesn't kill you
-----
mogwai - the lord is out of control
eagulls - tough luck
throwing up - medicine
the rainband - world we seek
-----
hatcham social - more power to live
mdnght - into the night
clean bandits - rather be feat jess glynne
metronomy - i'm aquarius
no ceremony - away from here feat james vincent mcmorrow
-----
lp session - toy "join the dots"
toy - you won't be the same
toy - as we turn
toy - left to wonder
chameleons vox - sycophants
the sun and the moon - adam's song (pour fenella)
-----
east india youth - dripping down
kitchens of distinction - tiny moments, tiny omens
white royal - embassy
morning parade - shake the cage
martha - sycamore
-----
childhood - pinballs
casual sex - then again
the mighty lemon drops - something happens
the loft - up the hill and down the slope
-----
the fireworks - runaround
white witches - secret club
-----
traams - demons

Oops, you can do it again, or for the first time!
Part One
Part Two

Monthly Indiessential chart for November 2013

The Best Of The British Indie/Alternative Scene

1. ¡NO PASARÁN! ... The Heartbreaks (self released)
2. FOLLOW ... Telegram (GramGram Records)
3. SICK OCTAVE (LP) ... Young Knives (Gadzook Recordings)
4. ENDLESSLY ... Toy (Heavenly)
5. GARAGE RECORDINGS 01 + 02 EP ... Candy Says (self released)
6. STARS SHINE BRIGHT ... Paradise (Dirty Bingo)
7. STARS ARE OUR HOME (LP) ... Black Hearted Brother (Slumberland)
8. FUTURE VANISHES EP ... Rose Elinor Dougall (You Records/Tri-Tone)
9. ENTROPY PT.1 EP ... Man Without Country (Lost Balloon)
10. NO BLUES (LP) ... Los Campesinos! (Turnstile Music/Heart Swells)
11. DIVIDE & FALL ... The Wolfhounds (Odd Box Records)
12. MESMERISE ... Temples (Heavenly)
13. MINUTE MILE ... The Rifles (Cooking Vinyl)
14. GRAND UNION ... Arthur Beatrice (Polydor)
15. SEVEN HOURS ... The Fauns (Invada)
16. ENERGY YOU EP ... Roman Remains (HOT Records)
17. UNDERBANK HALL / QUICK RELEASE ... Backyards (Backyards)
18. SIRENS AND SATELLITES (LP) ... SPC ECO (Kaboom Music)
19. BETWEEN TIMES ... Blessa (No Self Records)
20. PORCELAIN ... Snowbird (Bella Union)

Compiled from playlists, listener requests and dj input for November 2013