Music

Friday's Playlist: Scottish Voices

by Ciaran Thompson

Scotland has roughly 790 islands, around 130 being inhabited, and the unicorn as its official animal. It’s is known for its whiskey, having the fiercest soccer rivalry in the world and a general disdain for the country beneath it among other things. Musically Scottish bands are sometimes easy to distinguish because of their accent, however some hide it and do a very good job. Containing the memorable and usually addicting, when quoting William Wallace [ed note. the dude who played him is a racist man, I don’t know if we should reference this movie?] in Braveheart or Billy Connolly, accent or not the list of Scottish bands below make some memorable tunes.

Camera Obscura – If Looks Could Kill

– From their third album Let’s Get Out of This Country, released in 2006. The band’s latest album entitled My Maudlin Career came out last year and a video was shot recently by Yours Truly of the band playing the track “Forests and Sands” in California.

Belle and Sebastian – Sleep The Clock Around

– Off their third album The Boy with the Arab Strap, what some consider to be their best album. It was released in 1998. The band will be playing Toronto this Fall at Massey Hall on October 12 and a new album is expected later this year.

Donovan – Sunshine Superman

– This track was released as a single in 1966 where it reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. It later became the title track for Donovan’s third album.

Teenage Fanclub – The Concept

– From their 1991 album Bandwagonesque that beat out Nirvana’s Nevermind for album of the year chosen by Spin Magazine. The band never achieved high record sales with any of their albums, yet the music possesses a sense of timelessness.

Boards of Canada – Left Side Drive

– No Scottish accent, or voices for that matter, can be heard on this track, but in every playlist you need a song  that acts as a sort of intermission. It just so happens this duo are also from Scotland. This song is from an EP called Trans Canada Highway, released in 2006.

The Fratellis – Whistle For The Choir

– The Fratellis are no more with the band members moving on to different projects, but we can still look back at their past two albums and enjoy what once was. This track is from their debut LP Costello Music.

The View – Wasted Little DJs

– This song was on the Dundee band’s debut single released back in 2006. It also appears on their first full-length Hats Off to the Buskers, put out a year later.

We Were Promised Jetpacks – Quiet Little Voices

Featured on our 5 UK Bands You Need to Set a Date With list, the Edinburgh quartet released their debut album entiteld These Four Walls last year. This song was included on it.

Primal Scream – Loaded

– Primal Scream’s Screamadelica, released in 1991, saw the band leaning towards a more electronic sound. This track is a chill out staple that reminds folks of one of the greatest decades in music.

Simple Minds – Don’t You (Forget About Me)

– John Hughes’ The Breakfast Club. Fist-pumping on the football field. Written by Keith Forsey and Steve Schiff for the movie’s soundtrack, this song introduced Simple Minds to an American audience.