Perth band End Of Fashion create hook-heavy guitar pop based around the upbeat lyrics of frontman Justin Burford, ex-Sleepy Jackson. Their new album, Book Of Lies, is a rollicking collection of radio friendly music, destined to be played out again, and again. Here’s Burford’s Secret Playlist…
The Do / On My Shoulders
If I could marry a voice, I think it would have to be the one attached to Olivia Merilahti of the Parisian-Helsinki duo, The Do. This is just really simple folk pop, executed perfectly, with a balance of wisdom and vulnerability that’s rarely heard in modern popular music. It was love at first listen.
Soundgarden / Black Hole Sun
A blast from the past I know, but I woke up with this song in my head a few days ago, and since then, I think I’ve listened to it about 150 times. These guys were lumped in with that whole Seattle ‘grunge’ sound in the early 90s, but I think they were far more sophisticated then their peers of the time. It still holds up today and is pretty mind blowing.
Morrissey / Mute Witness
This track is on Morissey’s record, Kill Uncle, and although I don’t think it’s his best solo album ( Bona Drag is, in my humble opinion), this is one of my favourite career tracks. I love a lot of Morrissey’s work, both with the Smiths and without, and I think this song captures both his knack for off the wall storytelling and his super dry sense of humour.
Gang Of Four / To Hell With Poverty
I guess this is an obvious choice for anyone who knows Gang Of Four, but I listened to their Return The Gift Best Of again and it’s clearly the stand out track. This song is their Smells Like Teen Spirit, it just sums up completely who Gang Of Four were and what they stood for. If you don’t know them, check them out. It should give you an insight into where a lot of 80s alt rock came from and how that impacts on a lot of bands to this day.
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Art Brut / People In Love
These are guys are a perfect example of taking the torch lit by Gang Of Four and running with it. Great angular guitar work blends perfectly with lyrics delivered with tongues firmly planted in cheeks. Not as political as Gang Of Four, they are a little more accessible and ‘fun’, for want of a better word. I was listening to a lot of these guys and Gang Of Four when I was writing Book Of Lies, and I think it’s most noticeable on tracks like Biscit and Kamikaze.
Phil Collins / Against All Odds
Every time I do one of these favourite song lists, I always get the urge to throw in one of these daggy curve balls because, hey, deep down we’re all dags right? I have always had a soft spot for Phil Collins and, thanks to a certain talented gorilla, I believe the time is now ripe for all us closet Collins fans to come out of hiding and hold our heads high. This song, from a nerdy songwriting point of view, just rocks. The lyrics feel genuinely sad and the chord progression is second to none. Phil’s finest hour. This is a cover of the song by The Postal Service.
Augie March / Watch Me Disappear
I only just bought this record based on one listen at a mate’s house, so I don’t know it as well as I should. Yet! But the titular track is simply stunning. It sounds like Augie March, but with a whole new angle. It just rides along this cool ass groove and everything about it is both understated and attention grabbing at the same time. I want to ask Glenn Richards if he’s been listening to much Elbow lately.
The Devastations / Oh Me, Oh My
I was given their latest record, Yes, U, on the shoot of our Fussy video earlier this year and immediately fell in love with it. What I love about this record is the space. It’s the way they work around the silences that give their music its ethereal quality. It’s like flying with angels. I love this whole record, but Oh Me, Oh My was the first song played to me, so I guess it’s the one I felt an immediate bond with. Run a bath, put this album on, and just drift away.
www.mysecretplaylist.com
to listen to their music now on 