I know they're stolen, but I don't feel bad...

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Earworms of the Week

10. "Blood" - The Editors

Lord B returned this CD to me the other day and I popped it straight on in the car and have been listening to it (football commentary permitting) as I travel to and from the office. It's a very good album indeed. This was the standout song when I first listened to it, and although other songs have really grown on me (especially "All Sparks"), this still jumps out of the speakers, grabs me by the ears and climbs into my head.

9. "Battle of the Planets" - Fader Gladiator

This is a brilliant dance version of the Star Wars Imperial March. I first heard it used on "Spaced", and I spent ages trying to find out what it was before discovering (from the Spaced website) that it was on "Beats By Dope Demand Vol 4". Now that's the only double album I've ever bought for a song that's 1 minute and 45 seconds long. Worth every penny too.

8. "The Immigrant Song" - Led Zeppelin

Partly, it has to be said, because it gives me another excuse to link to this.

7. "New French Girlfriend" - The Auteurs

...although, just for the record, let it be shown that I'm perfectly happy with my current French girlfriend. Thanks.

6. "Paranoid" - Black Sabbath

I dreamt the other night that I fell asleep somewhere and missed a Black Sabbath live set. Now it seems unlikely to me that anyone would be able to sleep through this lot playing live, but it got me thinking of what a great song this is. This song also has the distinction of being one of the only things that I can play on the bass guitar. This, a bit from "The Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner" and "Every Breath You Take" and that's about your lot.

5. "My Favourite Game" - The Cardigans

Never really been a fan of the game, but I love this song. That looping and insistent synth line and Nina Persson's froideur. Brilliant.

4. "Black Coffee" - All Saints

I could pretty much take or leave all of the other songs by this band, but for some reason I adore this one. Go figure.

3. "Wake Up" - Rage Against The Machine

More shouty rock - this one taken from RATM's classic debut album. It's also the track that was used to great effect on the credits to the first "Matrix" film. Altogether now:

"WAAAAAAAAAAAKE UP!"

2. "Walking Abortion" - Manic Street Preachers

This is in my head because I wrote about 'The Holy Bible' on the Art of Noise this week. It's not an easy album to listen to by any stretch of the imagination... but it's my favourite Manic Street Preachers album by miles and miles. In fact, it's one of my favourite albums full stop. One to sing around the campfire:

'Mussolini hangs from a butchers hook
Hitler reprised in the worm of your soul
Horthy's corpse screened to a million
Tisu revived, the horror of a bullfight'

Catchy, no?

Who's responsible?

1. "Free Money" - Patti Smith

Speaking of my favourite albums of all time.... in my opinion there's not much that can match "Horses". There's something wild and free about Patti Smith's voice on the album in general, and on this song in particular. This song just rolls and rolls and picks up pace, building towards a frantic climax..

Wild and free, but also somehow fragile.

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Twenty-seven participants so far, but there's still time to add your name to the Shuffleathon --- and if you have signed up, then send me your chosen address to the email address in my profile.