Free Festive Treats

Posting our Best of Year lists has meant we’ve missed posting a few Christmas specials, so while it is not (quite) too late, here are some festive treats to brighten up your Christmas dinner… Rebekah Delgado has covered Mad World (Gary Jules had an Xmas no. 1 as we recall a few years ago covering this). Listen below or grab for free from here. a … Continue reading Free Festive Treats

Polly Pocket’s Top Songs Of 2012

As well as our Top 100 tunes of the year posts over the past five days, each of the MM contributors have put together their own lists. Kicking us off is Polly Pocket… This has been the hardest year ever to pick the best of – it has been a cracking year for top tunes but here goes….. 30. Sinead O’Connor – The Wolf Is … Continue reading Polly Pocket’s Top Songs Of 2012

2012 MAD MACKEREL’S 100 FAVOURITE SONGS PART 5: 20 – 1

And so the moment to reveal Mad Mackerel’s final favourites of 2012. Here are numbers 20 down to top spot. Dig in and enjoy. 20 OF MONSTERS AND MEN – LITTLE TALKS Duelling male / female voices from Iceland’s finest and bitter sweet lyrics (only with igloos and saunas instead of pubs and football). They also shout “Hey!” a lot which can’t be a bad thing. … Continue reading 2012 MAD MACKEREL’S 100 FAVOURITE SONGS PART 5: 20 – 1

2012 MAD MACKEREL’S 100 FAVOURITE SONGS PART 4: 40-21

Today we countdown songs 40-21 in the Mad Mackerel Favourite 100 tunes of the year. You can check out the previous days entries here: 100-81, 80-61, 60-41. 40 ALABAMA SHAKES – HOLD ON Almost a head-banger done country style, love the underlying guitar rhythm. (SB) a 39 LOWER DENS – BRAINS When I picked this song out in June I said it was like a … Continue reading 2012 MAD MACKEREL’S 100 FAVOURITE SONGS PART 4: 40-21

2012 MAD MACKEREL’S 100 FAVOURITE SONGS PART 3: 60 – 41

Today we reach the halfway mark of our favourite 100 songs of 2012. Here are numbers 60 – 41 for your listening pleasure. You can check out numbers 100 – 81 here and yesterday’s post of 80 – 61 here. And on we go… 60 JAMES LEVY & THE BLOOD RED ROSE – YOU SNEAK INTO MY ROOM A real mellow chill out tune. Reminds … Continue reading 2012 MAD MACKEREL’S 100 FAVOURITE SONGS PART 3: 60 – 41

2012 MAD MACKEREL’S 100 FAVOURITE SONGS PART 2: 80-61

Here are tracks 80 – 61 in our countdown of Mad Mackerel’s 100 favourite tunes of the year. Don’t forget to check out numbers 100 – 81 in yesterday’s post here and check back tomorrow for numbers 61 – 40. Here we go… 80 SUN KIL MOON – SUNSHINE IN CHICAGO Beautifully bittersweet reflections of wandering troubadour preparing for another gig in Chicago and how the … Continue reading 2012 MAD MACKEREL’S 100 FAVOURITE SONGS PART 2: 80-61

2012 MAD MACKEREL’S 100 FAVOURITE SONGS PART 1: 100 – 81

So the waiting is over, and here are the first twenty entries in our Top 100 of 2012, part of MM’s much expanded Best of the Year review. Over the next five days we will reveal our favourite songs and those of our contributors: Mrs Mackerel, Christy Popper, Barry-Sean, Dr Roddy, Polly Pocket, Middle Sprat, Starbie, and Toy Steve. These are not the most “popular” … Continue reading 2012 MAD MACKEREL’S 100 FAVOURITE SONGS PART 1: 100 – 81

Charity Single From Benjamin Shaw & Fighting Kites

The miserable, but brilliant, Benjamin Shaw and the instrumental Fighting Kites teamed up for this lo-Festive anthem last year and Audio Anti-hero are re-issuing it as a pay-what-you-want charity single to raise money for housing and homelessness non-profit Shelter. Watch the video for This Christmas (I Just Want To Be Left Alone) and download now on Bandcamp. It’s a pay what you want deal, but bear in … Continue reading Charity Single From Benjamin Shaw & Fighting Kites

Lots Of Free Samplers

As well as Insound’s latest free Vinyl News Mixtape, Noisetrade have put up four free brilliant label samplers from Anti Records, ATO, Frenchkiss and Nettwerk Music. The Insound sampler includes within its 10 tracks, offerings from FIDLAR, Memory Tapes, Teen Mom, The Analog Girl, and The Joy Formidable. The eight track Anti Records sampler features, amongst others, Calexico, Jason Lytle, The Coup and Sean Rowe. The … Continue reading Lots Of Free Samplers