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
Danish trio WhoMadeWho and Mark Lanegan have covered each other’s songs for release on a limited edition red 7″ vinyl with all of the proceeds going to Amnesty International. The 1,111 hand numbered copies of the vinyl are available for purchase now at wmwlanegan.com, and after December 31st both tracks will also be available digitally. WhoMadeWho has offered a reworking of Mark Lanegan’s Deep Black Vanishing … Continue reading Mark Lanegan & WhoMadeWho Release Amnesty 7″
After another clumsy week in which thankfully no animals or children were hurt in the making of, I have managed to emerge unscathed physically, but sadly not so the bank balance… A lovely visit from nephew Harry is restorative and exhausting in equal measures. Exhausting managing four sprats, an over-affectionate hound, two cats (one that should be six feet under and not still crapping in … Continue reading Mrs Mackerel’s TFI Friday (3rd August)
Musically, the year is starting to really kick into gear now and February saw lots of top quality tunes hit the web. Here is our pick of the best of last month’s posts along with four brand, spanking new tracks for you to download, sample and treasure. All in all over thirty great songs in one great mix. Download Hoots & Hellmouth – Why Would You … Continue reading Mad Mackerel’s Best Of The Month: February 2012
Bang on the money this week: gin in hand, more snow outside, Andy Williams is playing… You know that feeling (maybe?) that you just want something to dance to that your Dad used to play on vinyl when you were small… I still have the moves, Pops: Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, followed by a bit of Moon River. Anyway, enough of that. You … Continue reading Mrs Mackerel’s TFI Friday (10th February)
Submerged in snot and snow, I have emerged this chilly Sunday evening just to pop my head above the parapet and write a paltry Sunday offering (sorry MM, late again!) It did also mean that I was absent from the Mackerel bobsleigh this lunchtime and only put in a below par and croaky performance at Gooner Ian’s birthday yesterday. (Don’t we all love to be … Continue reading Mrs Mackerel’s TFI Friday…on Sunday (5th February)
A funny thing happened on the way back through Gloucester Cathedral this week. After a mesmerising 45 minutes watching Laura Marling perform an unaccompanied acoustic set, Pocket and I set off in hot pursuit in the hope of persuading Lovely Laura to write MM a Christmas exclusive. I would have course swum retrograde without Pocket chiming in my ears… faster, faster. It was an enormous … Continue reading Mrs Mackerel’s TFI Friday (21st October)
For some reason everywhere we’ve turned recently has brought us into contact with cover songs, so we figured we ought to do our duty and collect the best of them together in one convenient place just for you. So here you’ll find Deer Tick’s surprisingly faithful cover of an Eddie Cochran classic, Okkervil River taking on the White Stripes, Bat For Lashes doing The Eurythmics, Middle Brothers Daytrotter version … Continue reading Covers Up!
Coming Home is a solo outing from Denmark’s Maggie Bjorklund, released via the excellent Bloodshot Records. The album is a wonderful mix of instrumentals and collaborations with other artists such as Rachel Flotard, Jon Auer and best of all, Mrs Mackerel’s fave, the gravel voiced crooner Mark Lanegan. Meanwhile more Mrs M faves in the shape of Joey Burns and John Convertino of Calexico provide … Continue reading Introducing…Maggie Bjorklund
So after much deliberation, head scratching, discussion, and more head scratching, we have MM’s favourite albums of 2010. And we choose our words very carefully here, because we would not presume them to be the best, only those that have given us the most pleasure and enjoyment, records that we have returned to again and again, and for whatever reason have captured a moment or … Continue reading Mad Mackerel’s Albums of the Year
The Mad Mackerel 