**RANDOM SELECTION**

This feature has gone walkies for what I first thought was a few months and then when I checked was actually over a year. Now I'm not exactly sure what I was doing that made me put this feature on hold for so long but I assume it had something to do with Ben and Jerry's ice cream and episodes of The Only Way is Essex, the best way to spend an evening in.

I've been crap but hopefully this great post will make up for all the belated posts. So the act I'm going to educate myself about today are Icelandic cult heroes, The Sugarcubes.  Despite being a Bjork fan I have to admit I've never listened to The Sugarcubes, an embarrassing fact that I will correct today.

Now for a bit of background knowledge. Legend has it The Sugarcubes formed in 1986 on the day that Bjork gave birth to her first son which sounds pretty hardcore if you ask me. Focused around Bjork's girlish vocals, and occasionally second vocalist Einar Orn's spoken word raps, The Sugarcubes made quirky, sugar sweet indie-pop. They became popular in the UK after John Peel played their first single, the beautifully obscure, 'Birthday'.





The best example of The Sugarcubes genius, 'Birthday' is a delightfully sweet way of looking at a relationship by having Bjork whisper into a microphone that "he knows how many freckles she's got". The song was taken from the band's debut 1988 release Life's Too Good. The chorus is simply Bjork showing off her vocal warblings but it works so well that you often find yourself trying to replicate them while you're listening to it.





'Deus' was another single from their debut album. The song features the line "Deus does not exist but if he did..." which could either be interpreted as an atheist's view of the world or an attempt to decipher the complexity of the universe. It features the band's trademark jangly riffs and Bjork's feminine growl.





'Hit', taken from the band's third and final album Stick Around for Joy, was the band most popular song. "This wasn't supposed to happen" Bjork wonders whilst soaking up the joyous love she has stumbled across. It would be faultless if it wasn't for Einar Orn's seemingly random rap. During the band's lifespan critics were unsure of what to make of Einar's vocals. Some claimed it was what made The Sugarcubes the free-spirited, chaotic band they were, others claimed his vocal contributions were erratic, discordant and overshadowed Bjork's vocals.

The Sugarcubes disbanded in 1992 leaving Bjork to embark on, what would become, a hugely successful solo career shortly after. There are some real gems in their back catalogue and if you haven't listened to them before I implore you to check them out starting with the tracks I mentioned here. I know you'll be as entertained by the band's charming tunes as I was.

**RANDOM SELECTION**

This month's selection are Throwing Muses. Again like Joan Armatrading, who I discovered last month, I had only heard of Throwing Muses in reference to other bands and in casual conversation. I know little to nothing about them so lets discover something new.

Throwing Muses are a post-punk/ alternative rock band that formed in 1981 in Newport, Rhode Island. The band consisted of Kristen Hersh on vocals and guitar, Tanya Donelly (later of Breeders and Belly) on guitar and David Narcizo on drums. The band has had various line up changes over the years and now consists of Hersh, Narcizo and Bernard Georges, who has been part of the band since 1992, on bass.

What set Throwing Muses apart from other bands coming out of the America alternative rock scene in the 80s was Hersh's vocal warblings, her surreal lyrics and their creative, unorthodox song structures.







The first song I heard was Bright Yellow Gun from their 1995 album University, a song that propelled the band into the mainstream and saw them getting coverage in The Rolling Stone and other major music magazines. This song grabbed me from the opening glommy, heavy hook and had me spinning round the room. It's even better when you watch them live and see Hersh writhing behind her mic.







Another great from University is Shimmer which is a great 90s noise track.
"Don't follow me home. Don't follow me home."







Counting Backwards, an earlier song from their 1992 The Real Ramona LP, is an upbeat song that relies on the vocal harmonies of Donelly and Hersh and the ever present harsh guitar riff that we hear throughout the song.







The last song I want to share with you is Not Too Soon which is also from The Real Ramona and sees Donelly take lead vocals. It is a sweet almost poppy song that kinda reminds me of the late 80s C86 bands.

I love Throwing Muses. Their original, thrash, candid take on alternative music is amazing and can be heard in their side projects from Belly to 50 Foot Wave.

Definately recommended for anyone with a penchant for loud 90s music and Sonic Youth like lyrical craziness.

For more information: kristinhersh.com

**Random Selection**

Hello readers, Don't Dance Her Down Boys is back.

I have been pretty busy lately and have completly forgot about this site but that will change as of now and will start regularly blogging again.

To celebrate I have a new feature to share with you.

It's a monthly feature called Random Selection. Basically each month I will round up every artist that I have always heard of but never got round to listening to. I'll put all their names in a hat, or stick them on a dartboard whichever works best, and then one artist at random and write down my intial reaction to hearing their music for the first time.

First up is Joan Armatrading.

I'd only heard good things about Joan but for one reason or another I never investigated for myself.

Joan Armatrading is a singer/songwriter who released her first album in the 70s and is still touring now.

Every video and picture of her paints her as an artist that defied the idea of what a singer should look like choosing  baggy shirt and trousers over tight dresses and always performing with her trusty guitar.

My favourite fact about her is that she got fired from her first job in a factory because she took her guitar to work and played during her breaks.

The first song I heard was 'I'm Lucky'. Immediately I was taken in by the synthy/80s sound and awkward  half sung/half spoken vocals.



The second song I heard was 'Love and Affection'.

The song begins "I'm not in love but I'm open to suggestion."

How can you not fall in love with that kind of honesty.



The third song I heard was 'Drop The Pilot'.

This has a very 80s theme tune feel but its catchy. I absolutely know idea what it's about as the lyrics are a mystery but I like it.



Ultimately I'm pretty annoyed I didn't take the time to find out about her earlier.  Do you ever get that feeling when you hear someone for the first time that you've found the missing link. That missing piece that connects all your favourite artists in one huge creative jigsaw.

Let me know what you think. Who made you think twice? Who stopped you in your tracks? Who was your missing link?

www.joanarmatrading.com