This is a live acoustic version of Ian Brown's second solo release back in 1998.
Recorded live for Jo Whiley's BBC Radio 1 show this amazing version includes guitar by Ian's former guitarist and co-writer Aziz Ibrahim.
For those who question Brown's live vocals, this version is perfect and to this day it's my favourite Ian Brown solo track.
WOODS - "BLOOD DRIES DARKER"
Blood Dries Darker is taken from Brooklyn band Woods' album At Echo Lake.
The simple and sweet melodies and fragile vocals are mixed with haunted backing noises and walls of sounds feedback to create a sound that has one foot decidedly in the past and one foot in the noisey, arty future.
The band are creating a sound that not many other bands are attempting and creating it at a very high level. Hopefully their classic rock meets noise sound will catch on and people will come to find what a great record At Echo Lake really is.
BROKEN BELLS - "THE HIGH ROAD"
Broken Bells are a band that hail from th US.
I was introduced to Broken Bells by a friend and have to say that the debut album is amazing. Not very often you can put on a new album and listen to it from start to finish and rate every song .
The band formed roughly in Seprember 2009 and consists of Danger Mouse - Better known as one half of Gnarls Barkley, who has produced for the likes of Jay Z and The Gorillaz, and James Mercer, the lead vocalist and guitarist for the Oregonian indie rock band The Shins.
THE STONE ROSES - "I WANNA BE ADORED"
The Stone Roses are still to this day one of my favourite bands of all time. Formed in Manchester in 1984 they were one of the pioneering groups of the Madchester movement that was active during the late 1980s and early 1990s.
I Wanna Be Adored is the opening track to their debut album. The song in my opinion has one of the best opening bass lines and although the song is over 23 years old, it still sounds fresh today.
When played live at the height of The Roses' career, during their ecstacy fuelled gigs, Ian Brown once described the intention of the tune to those watching - The intention was for the bass drum to hit the stomach, snare drum for the head and the hi-hat for the shoulders.
Since the split of The Roses - Ian Brown has occasionally played the song live in his solo sets. He opened up with the tune at Glastonbury 2005 to mass applause, and Mani has regularly made guest appearances at Ian Brown's gigs playing bass to the tune.
If you haven't had a chance to listen to their debut album I would highly recommend it.
BADLY DRAWN BOY - "PISSIN' IN THE WIND"
Damon Gough AKA Badly Drawn Boy is a Mercury Prize British singer/songwriter. Gough chose his stage name from the title character in the show Sam and his Magic Ball, which he saw on TV at a party in Trafford, Manchester in 1995.
His debut album "Hour of the Bewilderbeast" which was released in 2000 is what won him his Mercury Prize. It is still considered as his defining work.
SOUTH - "BROKEN HEAD PART 2"
South were a British band who formed in 1998. Consisting of Joel Cadbury, Brett Shaw, and Jamie McDonald. Each member, a multi-instrumentalist who shared duties on guitars, bass, percussion, keyboards.
They were signed to James Lavelle's Mo' Wax label and were mentored by ex-Stone Roses frontman Ian Brown. South worked along side UNKLE releasing tracks for the soundtrack to Sexy Beast as well as remixes for the likes of artists including Ian Brown himself.
The bands first album - From Here On In is a pleasure to listen to. A well underrated album. Parts of the album wouldn't be out of place on DJ Shadow's Endtroducing. This track Broken Head 2 is taken from the debut.
The band split up in 2009. I believe Joel Cadbury still works and performs alongside James Lavelle and UNKLE.
THE BEASTIE BOYS - "JIMMY JAMES"
What better way to start this music section off with a classic from The Beastie Boys. Still one of my all time favourite bands, and this tune is probably the one which means the most to me.
I did a post a while back on The Beastie Boys so won't go too indepth here. Feel free to search the blog archives if you happened to miss it.
Jimmy James though is a classic - described as a tribute to Jimi Hendrix, the song features several samples from Hendrix which initially didn't get clearance from The Hendrix Estate. Determined to keep the song on Check Your Head, the band re-recorded "Jimmy James" using samples that sounded like the Hendrix ones.
So just sit back, max and relax and turn up your speakers and enjoy. If you aren't that familiar with the tune, hopefully after a few listens it will become one of your favourites too.
This is a live acoustic version of Ian Brown's second solo release back in 1998.
Blood Dries Darker is taken from Brooklyn band Woods' album At Echo Lake.
Broken Bells are a band that hail from th US.
The Stone Roses are still to this day one of my favourite bands of all time. Formed in Manchester in 1984 they were one of the pioneering groups of the Madchester movement that was active during the late 1980s and early 1990s. 
Damon Gough AKA Badly Drawn Boy is a Mercury Prize British singer/songwriter. Gough chose his stage name from the title character in the show Sam and his Magic Ball, which he saw on TV at a party in Trafford, Manchester in 1995. 
South were a British band who formed in 1998. Consisting of Joel Cadbury, Brett Shaw, and Jamie McDonald. Each member, a multi-instrumentalist who shared duties on guitars, bass, percussion, keyboards.
What better way to start this music section off with a classic from The Beastie Boys. Still one of my all time favourite bands, and this tune is probably the one which means the most to me.
