Various artists ~ "Mummy, Mummy Please Look At Me": A Tribute to the Television Personalities

Well, this Television Personalities tribute album is a hidden gem! I'm ashamed to say that TVPs were one of those revered (in indiepop circles) bands that I've never got around to listening to as much as I probably should have. I shall remedy this straight away! 🎧🎶

Highlights: Jeanines, The Kitchenettes, The 1981 (year of my birth! 😏), The Telephone Numbers. Curated by the brilliant Dandy Boy Records, out of Oakland, California. 

Merry Christmas to all my friends. 💗

Enjoy this throwback to the time when fluffmeister Nancy dragged her own present - some catnip-flavoured treats - out of the pile and started opening it with her teeth. Even though it looks faked, I did not stage this picture in any way - cross my ♥! 

Merry Christmas to all the kitties.  

From the compilation Cwistmas Twee (Total Gaylord Records, 2004). 

And now for a pair of festive gems released just this month. ✨🎁

I'd like to wish everyone who reads this a very happy, healthy and music-filled 2024. 🥂 All Dressed Up in Dreams will be back in the new year - stay tuned! 😻

The Hidden Cameras ~ The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Is it too early to start posting Christmas tunes? Well, I just did! 🎄🎅

Favourite Magnetic Fields covers

For many years now, I have collected covers of Magnetic Fields songs - I have nearly 100 mp3s! - and so without further ado, may I present the countdown of my top five. 🎧🎶

To kick things off, at number five it's Nallo and their wonky fuzzpop version of When My Boy Walks down the Street. 

Nallo · 69LS: When My Boy Walks Down The Street

At four, perhaps better known as front woman of 90s indie-pop group Suddenly, Tammy!, Beth Sorrentino and her lovely piano-led rendition of 100,000 Fireflies.

Third, The Shins' summery take on Strange Powers.

At number two, this is Kotomi's (composer and producer Lauren Hillman's) electro-cool reworking of All the Umbrellas in London. 

Finally, my favourite one of all: Tracey Thorn and Jens Lekman's sublime duet on Yeah! Oh, Yeah! 🔥🔥🔥

One thing that struck me whilst compiling this list, is the quality of the songwriting - it's so exceptionally good, that I daresay a Merritt cover would be pretty hard to mess up. 

The Radio Dept. ~ You're Lookin' at My Guy (cover of the Tri-Lites)

 They've still got it! I adore the Radio Dept. 🖤