Heaven or Las Vegas - Chris Mackie Music Picks

Poor Mike Skinner, he sensationally delivers on his
early promise with this effort and is immediately
appointed the mouthpiece for Chav Britannia. This is
unfortunate, because this LP is nigh on perfect -
dancey, dark, eloquent, clever. Liking him aligns my
taste with the local neds, but who cares.

Belle & Sebastian - The Boy With The Arab Strap (1998)

Scotland should cherish Belle & Sebastian more than we
do methinks. By this, their 3rd album they had wisely
begun to shed their childish shyness and deliver some
stonking pop, Witty, lush and containing their
greatest song (the aces title track), The Boy With the
Arab Strap is their best work - fact.

Mogwai - Young Team (1997)

Their later stuff is more accomplished, but this comes
nearest to capturing the latent menace of their live
shows. Edgy, intense and several shades of dark.

Morning Runner - Wilderness is Paradise Now (2006)

Their debut LP and sadly their last, because they
split in 2007. Morning Runner had a couple of minor
hits in 2005 but because they didn't sound like the
Libertines they were largely ignored. Frankly this
was criminal because as debuts go, it's very
impressive. Just full of excellent songs.

Sigur Ros - Takk (2005)

I generally don't have many regrets in life - not
keeping all of my Star Wars toys is one. Wearing Joe
Bloggs rave-ware in the 90s is another. But both of
these errors are dwarfed by my inexplicable decision
not to see Sigur Ros at T in The Park in 2006. For
some reason I saw the Red Hot Chili Peppers instead, a
choice that has haunted me ever since, not least
because I came late to discovering this utter peach of
a set. So utterly beautiful it makes you wish it
would morph into an Icelandic lady so that you could
marry her immediately.

Super Furry Animals - Radiator (1997)

Super Furry Animals are a national treasure. So much
of their output could have a place in this top ten,
but Radiator stands out, just pipping Phantom Power.
It's experimental yet immediately accessible, blending
musical references as diverse as punk and the Beach
Boys.

The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses (1989)

Yeah, yeah I know, it's an obvious choice, but that
doesn't mean it's the wrong choice. They half-inched
the best bits of 30 years of pop/rock music - dance
beats, jingle jangle guitars, surly rock star
behaviour, mystical yet nonsensical lyrics - and in
doing so provide the starting point for the bands of
today. Let us all pray to god that they choose not to
reform. That would be dreadful.

Teenage Fanclub - Songs From Northern Britain (1997)

The follow up to the more successful Grand Prix, this
piece of wonderment from the Fanclub is nigh on
perfect. quite why they aren't the biggest band in
the UK is proof that the Great British Public are a
bunch of cunts.

Marillion - Misplaced Childhood (1985)

There will come a time, many years in the future when
people will finally realise how good Marillion were.
An unlikely stadium rock prospect at the tail end of
the eighties, they reached their commercial and
critical high water mark with this beezer. Yes it's
pompous, yes it's pretentious, but as overblown
prog-rock opuses go, it can't be beaten.

The Lemonheads - Come On Feel The Lemonheads (1993)

Listening to this makes me smile.

Songs

1) The Cure - A Forest
2) Arab Strap - The First Big Weekend
3) The Byrds - Chestnut Mare
4) Jesus and Mary Chain - Far Gone and Out
5) Counting Crows - Have You Seen Me Lately?
6) Kate Bush - Hounds of Love
7) Arcade Fire - No Cars Go
8) David Bowie - Ashes to Ashes
9) Teenage Fanclub - Discolite
10) New Order - Regret